IDENTIFICATION OF INTRAOCULAR-LENS ADSORBED PROTEINS IN MAMMALIAN IN-VITRO AND IN-VIVO SYSTEMS

Objective: Mammalian in vitro and in vivo systems were used to study t he protein-adsorbing potential of intraocular lenses (IOLs). Methods: Intraocular lenses composed of polymethyl methacrylate optics with pol ypropylene haptics were incubated in rabbit plasma for 3 hours (in vit ro grouping) or implanted in rabbit eyes for 48 hours (in vivo groupin g). Lens-adsorbed proteins from both experimental groupings were elute d with sodium dodecyl sulfate and identified by Western Blot analyses. Results: The adsorbed protein layer was composed of at least six diff erent proteins, albumin, complement C3 fragments, IgG, fibrinogen/fibr in (as a fibrin clot in vivo), fibronectin, and transferrin. Of the id entified components, albumin, IgG, fibronectin, and fibrinogen were th e predominant protein species on the in vitro IOLs, while fibronectin and fibrin were on the in vivo IOLs. Conclusions: The composition of t he protein layer has the potential to alter the biological property of IOLs.