ABSTRACT
【Objective】 In recent years, granulocyte colony stimulating growth factor (G-CSF) has been proved to be expressed in the posterior capsule of the lens of posterior capsular opacification (PCO), but its specific role remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore whether G-CSF plays a role in PCO. 【Methods】 First, human lens epithelial cells (HLEC-B3) were treated with different concentration of recombinant G-CSF protein and screened for effective appropriate concentration. Then, Western blotting was used to detect the effects of extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis and epithelial mesenchymal transdifferentiation (EMT) marker genes after G-CSF treatment on HLEC-B3 cells. Finally, the effects of G-CSF treatment on the migration and invasion of HLEC-B3 cells were detected by scratch experiment and Transwell test. 【Results】 G-CSF at 80 μg/L could promote the proliferation of HLEC-B3 cells. After G-CSF was treated for 48 h, the expressions of EMT and ECM synthesis marker genes in HLEC-B3 cells were significantly upregulated with time. G-CSF could significantly promote HLEC-B3 cell invasion after 48 h induction. Similarly, G-CSF could also significantly induce cell migration compared to the CTRL group. 【Conclusion】 G-CSF can promote the proliferation, migration and invasion of HLEC-B3 cells, as well as EMT and ECM synthesis, which might be involved in the occurrence of PCO. Inhibiting the expression of G-CSF may be a new strategy for PCO prevention.