Effect of Dickkopf-1 regulated Wnt pathway on transdifferentiation of hypoxia-induced lens epithelial cells / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To scrutinize the role of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)of lens epithelial cells under hypoxic conditions, and to further analyze the effect of Dickkopf-1(DKK-1)expression on EMT of lens epithelial cells.METHODS: Human lens epithelial cells(HLEB3 cells)were propagated in vitro and then separated into two groups: one exposed to standard oxygen levels, added DMEM culture solution containing 10% FBS(normoxic group)and another subjected to low oxygen levels(hypoxic group). The hypoxic condition was emulated by applying a concentration of 100 μmol/L cobalt chloride(CoCl2)for 6, 12, 24, and 48h. The utilization of immunofluorescence staining enabled the detection of Wnt3a and DKK-1 expressions, along with the expression and localization of β-catenin protein in these groups. The expression of DKK-1 mRNA was discerned by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR).RESULTS: Immunofluorescence assays indicated an escalating trend in the Wnt3a and DKK-1 protein expression, which corresponded with the increasing duration of hypoxia. Likewise, an intensified nuclear accumulation of β-catenin protein was observed to be directly proportional to the length of hypoxia treatment. The qRT-PCR demonstrated that the difference in DKK-1 mRNA expression between the normoxic group and the group exposed to hypoxia for 6h was not statistically significant(P>0.05), whereas the DKK-1 mRNA expression of the 12, 24, and 48h hypoxia groups were significantly increased(P<0.001).CONCLUSION: Hypoxia can activate Wnt/β-catenin pathway in lens epithelial cells and induce the expression of DKK-1, thus regulating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and affecting the EMT process.

The clinical characteristics of alcohol-related ocular rupture.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of drunken patients treated for ocular rupture, and to compare these results to patients injured without alcohol consumption. DESIGN AND METHODS: The medical records of 182 patients with or without alcohol consumption before injury who were treated and followed up because of ocular rupture at the Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University from October 2007 to October 2011 were evaluated retrospectively. The characteristics and outcomes of 45 alcohol-related injury patients were compared with the rest in the cohort. The clinical data included in this study were: anatomic sites and length of the wound, involvement of ocular adnexa injuries, evisceration rate, and final mean visual acuity. RESULTS: Wound locations were significantly different between the alcohol-related group and the non-alcohol-related one. Compared with the non-alcohol-related ocular rupture population, the anatomic sites of the drunken patients were more likely to be located at zone I and zone II (60.0 vs 40.1 %; χ2 = 5.39,P < 0.05). The difference of wound length between the alcohol-related group and the non-alcohol-related one was significant. The alcohol-related patients had a longer wound length (Z = -8.590,P < 0.05). Compared with the non-alcohol population, the alcohol-consuming patients were more likely to suffer adnexa injuries (84.4 vs 59.8 %; χ2 = 5.86,P < 0.05), and had worse final visual acuities (Z = -7.195,P < 0.05). The evisceration rate of the alcohol-related patients was significantly higher than the non-alcohol patients (24.4 vs 9.4 %; χ2 = 6.62,P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Drinking more easily leads to injury of the front part of eyes. Moreover, the drunken patients had a worse visual acuity outcome, longer wound length, higher evisceration rate, and were more prone to endure adnexa injuries. The importance of prevention and education to recognize the hazards of drinking cannot be overemphasized.

Effects of interleukin-1α on the expression of matrix metalloproteinases and tissue matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors in swine trabecular meshwork cells / 中华实验眼科杂志

BackgroundObstruction of aqueous humor out flow pathway or abnormality of the extracellular matrix( ECM ) of trabecular meshwork cells causes high intraocular pressure. The balance of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases(TIMPs) is critical for the metabolism of ECM. Interleukin1α(IL-1α) can influence outflow of aqueous humor by regulating MMPs level. Objective This study was to investigate the effect of interleukin-1α on the expression of MMP-2,MMP-3 and TIMP-I in cultured swine trabecular meshwork cells.Methods Swine sclera with trabecular meshwork tissue was isolated from 20 swine eyes and cultured with explant cultured method. Cultured cells were passaged and third generation cells were identified by fibronectin ( FN ) and laminin ( LN ) staining. After 24 hours of serum starvation, trabecular meshwork cells treated with IL-1α at the concentration of 10 mg/L were regarded as the IL group,and serum-free culture medium used to treat trabecular meshwork cells was regarded as the control group. The expression of MMP-2, MMP-3 and TIMP-1 proteins in trabecular meshwork cells were detected by immunohistochemistry,and the expression of MMP-2 mRNA, MMP-3 mRNA and TIMP-1 mRNA were detected by RT-PCR. The examination results were compared between the two groups. ResultsThe third generation of cells were positive for FN and LM. Compared with the control group, the expression levels of MMP-3 and TIMP-1 proteins(A value) in trabecular meshwork cells were significantly higher in the IL group than the control group(t=-7. 694,t =-5. 199,P＜0. 05) ,but no obvious difference was found in the expression of MMP-2 between the two groups( t=-2. 365, P＞0.05 ). The higher expression levels in MMP-3 mRNA and TIMP-1 mRNA (A value) in trabecular meshwork cells were seen in comparison with the control group (t =-3. 025,t=-1. 921 ,P＜0. 05). However,similar results were found in the expression of MMP-2 mRNA between the two groups(t =- 1. 173, P＞0.05 ). ConclusionsThe overexpression of MMP-3 and TIMP-1 proteins and their mRNA leads to the imbalance of MMP-3/TIMP-1 and promotes the decomposition of ECM in the trabecular meshwork, and therefore increases aqueous outflow.

Analysis of the causes of pyogenic granuloma after hydroxyapatite orbital implants / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To study the causes of pyogenic granuloma after hydroxyapatite(HA) orbital implants.METHODS: HA orbital implants (250 cases) in our hospital (68 pegged implants) were reviewed.All patients were followed up from 18 months to 10 years. Implants were removed after medical therapy which was proved to be ineffective.RESULTS: Ten of 250 cases of HA orbital implants developed pyogenic granuloma. Pyogenic granuloma occurred in 1 unpegged implants patient and 9 patients after pegging and drilling of HA implantation over 4～7 years. The pyogenic granulomas were not controlled by medical therapy effectively. Implants were removed in 9 cases except 1 case denied removing and continued medical therapy.CONCLUSION: Pyogenic granuloma was serious complication that occurred after HA orbital implants. Partial vascularization, implant exposure, xenogenic sclera implant, pegging and drilling of HA implantation are risk factors that affect the development of pyogenic granuloma.Pyogenic granuloma hasn't relation with implanted peg material. Pyogenic granuloma denotes the potential implant infection, and all implants should be removed finally.