title: Morphological and proliferative studies on ex vivo cultured human anterior lens epithelial cells - relevance to capsular opacification.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the structural characteristics of lens epithelial cells (LECs) found on the anterior portion of the lens capsule and their pluripotency, proliferating and migrating potential when grown ex vivo with relevance to posterior capsular opacification (PCO) after cataract surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The explants of anterior portion of the lens capsule consisting of monolayer of LECs were obtained from uneventful cataract surgery and were cultivated under adherent conditions. The size and shape of the outgrowing cells were recorded by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while their migration and proliferation potential were followed using light microscopy. Positivity for proliferation (Ki-67)- and pluripotency (Sox2)-specific markers were tested by immunofluorescent staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proliferation and migration of anterior portion of the lens capsule's LECs filling up the denuded and reverse side regions of the lens capsule as well as their growth on glass culture surfaces could be followed by light microscopy and SEM, while the distribution of LECs and their morphology could be analysed in detail by SEM. The expression of Ki-67 and Sox2 in LECs growing adherently on human anterior portion of the lens capsule could also be detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Classic light microscopy and SEM can be used to show that human anterior portion of the lens capsule harbours LECs that can proliferate and migrate, suggesting their pluripotency or putative stem cell nature. Similarly, morphological techniques can be used to study PCO and the effect different drugs or physical treatments have against PCO development.
authors: Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors: Sofija
authors: S
authors: Andjelić
authors: Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors: Kazimir
authors: K
authors: Drašlar
authors: Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors: Xhevat
authors: X
authors: Lumi
authors: Helmholtz Center Munich German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Developmental Genetics, Neuherberg, Germany.
authors: Xiaohe
authors: X
authors: Yan
authors: Helmholtz Center Munich German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Developmental Genetics, Neuherberg, Germany.
authors: Joachim
authors: J
authors: Graw
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Facskó
authors: Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors: Marko
authors: M
authors: Hawlina
authors: Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia.|Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.|Stem Cells and Eye Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Apoptosis and Genomics Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
authors: Goran
authors: G
authors: Petrovski
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D057866:Anterior Capsule of the Lens / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D058442:Capsule Opacification / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008853:Microscopy; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008875:Middle Aged; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; C527782:SOX2 protein, human; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors
keywords: lens epithelial cells; pluripotency; posterior capsular opacification; proliferation; scanning electron microscopy