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Severe abnormalities of anterior lens epithelium and the basement membrane in patients with systemic inflammatory diseases: a transmission electron microscopy study of patients with age-related cataract

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First Author: O.Dikmetas TURKEY

Co Author(s):    A. Fırat   S. Kocabeyoglu                 

Abstract Details

Purpose:

The single-layered lens epithelial cells (LECs) underlying the anterior lens capsule is metabolically the most active part of the crystalline lens, acting as a metabolic engine that sustains the physiological health of the tissue. The epithelium is the lens layer where many constitutive elements of the mechanisms responsible for the transport of water, ions and nutrients through the lens are situated. The aim of this study was to examine via electron microscopy the LECs in age-related cataracts and compare the findings between patients with and without systemic inflammatory diseases.

Setting:

Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

Methods:

This is a prospective interventional study. The anterior lens capsules were taken from 10 eyes of 10 with and without systemic inflammatory diseases (Wegener’s granulomatosis, Sjogren syndrome, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus) patients who were diagnosed as having age-related cataracts. All participants had no any other systemic diseases. The anterior lens capsules were obtained from cataract surgery and prepared for transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The ultrathin sections of the obtained tissue blocks were cut with an ultramicrotome (LKB Nova, Sweden) and were stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate, they were examined under Jeol JEM 1200 EX (Japan) TEM.

Results:

Some significant ultrastructural changes were observed in all anterior lens capsules of the participants. Vesicles were found adjacent to the capsular cells and at the cortical side of the epithelial cells. In our study, intracellular and intercellular vacuoles and intercelluler oedema were observed in the LECs. In accordance with the above-described observations, in Wegener’s granulomatosis group, the detachment of the lens capsule from the epithelium was seen significantly, basement membrane shows discontinuations at these oedematous areas, in hypothroidism group, superficial squamous cell layer and desquamation was observed above the ultrastructurely normal LECs.

Conclusions:

Transmission electron microscope examination revealed ultrastructural abnormalities in all patients’ lens epithelia, more extended and more frequently observed with systemic inflammatory diseases. Ultrastructural analysis of the anterior lens capsule of the patients with systemic inflammatory diseases disclosed some significant alterations which may be related to the summation of inflammation. There are few studies in which degeneration and transdifferentiation of cataractic lens epithelial cells were observed and discussed. Further studies will facilitate the identification of the etiopathogenesis of the cataract associated with systemic inflammatory diseases.

Financial Disclosure:

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