Human Primary Lens Epithelial Cultures on Basal Laminas Studied by Synchrotron-Based FTIR Microspectroscopy for Understanding Posterior Capsular Opacification

TL;DR

This study uses advanced infrared spectroscopy to compare the molecular profiles of cultured and postoperative lens epithelial cells on basal laminas to better understand posterior capsular opacification.

Contribution

The study introduces synchrotron-based FTIR microspectroscopy to differentiate molecular profiles of cultured and postoperative lens epithelial cells on basal laminas.

Findings

Cultured LECs on bls showed higher collagen contribution based on specific infrared spectral features.

Postoperative LECs on bls exhibited a higher cell contribution, indicated by distinct spectral peak ratios.

SR-FTIR revealed greater LEC contribution in postoperative lens epithelia compared to cultured LECs.

Abstract

Human primary lens epithelial cultures serve as an in vitro model for posterior capsular opacification (PCO) formation. PCO occurs when residual lens epithelial cells (LECs) migrate and proliferate after cataract surgery, differentiating into fibroblastic and lens fiber-like cells. This study aims to show and compare the bio-macromolecular profiles of primary LEC cultures and postoperative lens epithelia LECs on basal laminas (bls), while also analyzing bls and cultured LECs separately. Using synchrotron radiation-based Fourier transform infrared (SR-FTIR) (Bruker, Karlsruhe, Germany) microspectroscopy at the Spanish synchrotron light source ALBA, we observed that the SR-FTIR measurements were predominantly influenced by the strong collagen absorbance of the bls. Cultured LECs on bls showed a higher collagen contribution, indicated by higher vas CH3, CH2 and CH3 wagging and deformation, and the C–N stretching of collagen. In contrast, postoperative LECs on bls showed a higher cell contribution, indicated by the vsym CH2 peak and the ratio between vas CH2 and vas CH3 peaks. The primary difference revealed using SR-FTIR is the greater LEC contribution in spectra recorded from postoperative lens epithelia compared to cultured LECs on bls. IR spectra for bl, cultured LECs and postoperative lens epithelia could be valuable for future research.

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