ANTI-BETA-CRYSTALLIN ANTIBODIES (MOUSE) OR SERA FROM HUMANS WITH AGE-RELATED CATARACT ARE CYTOTOXIC FOR LENS EPITHELIAL-CELLS IN CULTURE

Circulating autoantibodies against lens antigens are prevalent in pati ents with age-related cataract (ARC), but their pathogenic significanc e is unknown. We hypothesized that these autoantibodies are cytotoxic for lens epithelial cells (LECs). To test this hypothesis, we incubate d LECs with mouse polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies against beta-cry stallin (anti-beta) in the presence or absence of guinea pig complemen t. We found that anti-beta in the presence of the complement bound to and killed mouse LECs (MLECs) and human LECs (HLECs). Sera obtained fr om patients with ARC also were cytotoxic to both HLECs and MLECs in cu lture. Heat-inactivated human sera were not cytotoxic to LECs in the a bsence of the complement, but were cytotoxic to both HLECs and MLECs i n the presence of additional complement. These results support the hyp othesis that autoantibodies against lens antigens are cytotoxic to LEC s, and that cell death may involve complement-mediated pathways. (C) 1 997 Academic Press Limited.