Rho/Rho–Kinase Inhibitor Blocks Myodifferenciation of Lens Epithelial Cells

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To determine whether Rho/Rho–kinase inhibitor can block myodifferentiation of lens epithelial cells(LECs) induced by transforming growth factorß (TGF–ß).in cultured porcine lens epithelial cells (LECs). Methods: Porcine LECs cultured in a DMEM (Dulbecco’s Modified Eagles Medium) with or withoutTGF–ß, and pretreated with C3 exoenzyme (a specific inhibitor of Rho–GTPase) or the Rho kinase inhibitor Y27632 were cultured with TGF–ß. To evaluate myodifferentiation , the expression of alpha–smooth muscle actin (α–SMA), a marker for myofibroblasts was detected immunocytochemically with a mouse monoclonal antibody, and the ratio of the number of α–SMA–positive cells to the total number of cells, the P/T ratio, was calculated. Results: The P/T ratio of LECs following pretreatment with C3 exoenzyme (8.5±2.9%) and Y–27632 (12.3±4.0%) were significantly smaller than the ratio of no treatment LECs cultured with TGF–ß (54.6±10.8%). (p<0.0001) Conclusions: Rho/Rho–kinase signaling pathway influence myodifferentiation of LECs. This finding suggest that controlling Rho/Rho–kinase signaling pathway may be helpful for suppressing fibrosis of LECs.

Keywords: posterior capsular opacification (PCO) • cataract • wound healing