Abstract
Purpose :
The effects of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) on the development of posterior capsular opacification (PCO) was investigated in vitro and in vivo.
Methods :
Western-blot and Real-time PCR were used to test IL-6-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), extracellular matrix (ECM) markers fibronectin (Fn) and type I collagen (COL-1), transforming growth factor β2 (TGF-β2), the activation and the role of the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway in human lens epithelial cells (HLECs). Immunocytofluorescense staining was performed to detect the expression of gp130 and IL-6Rα in HLECs. Capsular bag models were established to examine the proliferation of LECs by using JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway’s inhibitor WP1066. Rat PCO models were then established to examine the impact of STAT3 knockdown by shRNA adeno-associated virus on PCO development and Immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the expression of Fn in the anterior and posterior capsule in vivo.
Results :
We found that IL-6 promotes the expression of Fn, COL-1, TGF-β2, p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 in HLECs but exerts little effect on α-SMA. The JAK/STAT3 inhibitor WP1066 effectively suppressed the IL-6-induced cell proliferation and expression of Fn and COL-1 in LECs. STAT3 knockdown effectively inhibited the development of PCO in rats and significantly reduced the expression of Fn in the anterior and posterior capsule.
Conclusions :
IL-6 contributed to the development of PCO by promoting TGF-β2 activation, ECM synthesis and LEC proliferation through a JAK/STAT3 signaling-dependent mechanism. Furthermore, inhibiting JAK/STAT3 signaling effectively impaired both PCO development in a rat and ECM synthesis in the lens capsule.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.