IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL IDENTIFICATION OF PROTEOGLYCAN TYPES IN FIBROTIC HUMAN CAPSULES WITH INTRAOCULAR-LENS IMPLANTS

Lens capsules become fibrotic after cataract extraction. A variety of extracellular matrix (ECM) components accumulate on these capsules in association with the proliferation of lens epithelial cells. To provid e a better understanding of the process of capsular fibrosis, we asses sed the types of proteoglycans (PG) in human lens capsules with intrao cular lenses (IOL). Lens capsules containing IOLs were removed from 1 patient with proliferative vitreoretinopathy and 1 patient with prolif erative diabetic retinopathy. After treatment with chondroitinase ABC, tissue sections were processed for immunohistochemical detection of t he proteoglycans including chondroitin, large PG, chondroitin 4-sulfat e PG, chondroitin 6-sulfate PG, dermatan sulfate PG, and keratan sulfa te PG. Extracellular matrix was found on the inner surface of the caps ular bag. In association with what appeared to be proliferating lens e pithelial cells, each of the six types of PG was present in the ECM on the capsules. All six types of PG might be involved in the fibrosis a nd opacification of lens capsules after extraction of the cataract and implantation of the IOL. Jpn J Ophthalmol 1998;42:368-372 (C) 1998 Ja panese Ophthalmological Society.