Identification of intraocular lens-adsorbed proteins in mammalian in vitro and in vivo systems
H. H. Kochounian, S. A. Kovacs, J. Sy, D. E. Grubbs and W. A. Maxwell
Department of Biology, California State University, Fresno.
OBJECTIVE: Mammalian in vitro and in vivo systems were used to study the
protein-adsorbing potential of intraocular lenses (IOLs). METHODS:
Intraocular lenses composed of polymethyl methacrylate optics with
polypropylene haptics were incubated in rabbit plasma for 3 hours (in vitro
grouping) or implanted in rabbit eyes for 48 hours (in vivo grouping).
Lens-adsorbed proteins from both experimental groupings were eluted with
sodium dodecyl sulfate and identified by Western Blot analyses. RESULTS:
The adsorbed protein layer was composed of at least six different proteins:
albumin, complement C3 fragments, IgG, fibrinogen/fibrin (as a fibrin clot
in vivo), fibronectin, and transferrin. Of the identified components,
albumin, IgG, fibronectin, and fibrinogen were the predominant protein
species on the in vitro IOLs, while fibronectin and fibrin were on the in
vivo IOLs. CONCLUSIONS: The composition of the protein layer has the
potential to alter the biological property of IOLs.
