Depletion of Myo/Nog Cells in the Lens Mitigates Posterior Capsule Opacification in Rabbits.

Authors

Jacquelyn Gerhart, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic MedicineFollow
Liliana Werner
Nick Mamalis
Joseph Infanti, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic MedicineFollow
Colleen Withers, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Fathma Abdalla, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic MedicineFollow
Colby Gerhart, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Arturo Bravo Nuevo, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic MedicineFollow
Olivia Gerhart, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Lori Getts
Kelly Rhodes
Jessica Bowers
Robert Getts
Mindy George-Weinstein, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic MedicineFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-1-2019

Abstract

Purpose: Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) is a vision-impairing disease that occurs in some adults and most children after cataract surgery. Contractile myofibroblasts contribute to PCO by producing wrinkles in the lens capsule that scatter light. Myofibroblasts in the lens originate from Myo/Nog cells named for their expression of the MyoD transcription factor and bone morphogenetic protein inhibitor noggin. In this study we tested the effects of depleting Myo/Nog cells on development of PCO.

Methods: Myo/Nog cells were eliminated by injecting the G8 antibody conjugated to 3DNA nanocarriers for the cytotoxin doxorubicin (G8:3DNA:Dox) during cataract surgery in rabbits. The severity of PCO was scored by slit lamp analysis, gross and histologic observation, and immunofluorescence localization of α-smooth muscle actin.

Results: G8:3DNA:Dox specifically induced cell death in Myo/Nog cells in the lens. None of the lenses administered G8:3DNA containing 9 to 36 μM doxorubicin developed greater than trace levels of central PCO and few myofibroblasts were present on the capsule. Less than 9% of these lenses exhibited greater than mild levels of peripheral PCO. Doxorubucin itself reduced PCO; however, myofibroblasts and wrinkles were abundant in the lens, and off-target effects were observed in the ciliary processes and cornea.

Conclusions: Myo/Nog cells are the primary source of myofibroblasts in the lens after cataract surgery. Targeted depletion of Myo/Nog cells has potential for preventing PCO and preserving vision.

Publication Title

Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science

Volume

60

Issue

6

First Page

1813

Last Page

1823

PubMed ID

31042787

Comments

This article was published in Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Volume 60, Issue 6, pages 1813-1823.

The published version is available at https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.19-26713

Copyright © 2019 The Authors. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Recommended Citation

Gerhart, Jacquelyn; Werner, Liliana; Mamalis, Nick; Infanti, Joseph; Withers, Colleen; Abdalla, Fathma; Gerhart, Colby; Bravo Nuevo, Arturo; Gerhart, Olivia; Getts, Lori; Rhodes, Kelly; Bowers, Jessica; Getts, Robert; and George-Weinstein, Mindy, "Depletion of Myo/Nog Cells in the Lens Mitigates Posterior Capsule Opacification in Rabbits." (2019). PCOM Scholarly Papers. 1990.
https://digitalcommons.pcom.edu/scholarly_papers/1990