Inhibitory effects of Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide on cell attachment and migration in a human lens epithelial cell line

Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) after cataract surgery is caused by growth of residual human lens epithelial (HLE) cells on the posterior capsule. We have shown that extracellular matrix (ECM) is an essential factor for HLE cell attachment and migration. The purpose of this study was to examine the inhibitory effects of Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide on cell attachment and migration in an HLE cell line. HLE cell line cells (SRA 01/04) that were obtained by transfection of large T antigen of SV40 were cultured in the absence of serum. The culture dishes were coated with type IV collagen, laminin or fibronectin, and Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser-Pro (GRGDSP) RGD peptide (0.1, 0.3, 1.0, 2.0 mg/ml) was added to the medium. The number of attached cells was counted after 90 min of incubation, and the inhibitory effects of GRGDSP RGD peptide on cell attachment were calculated. Cell attachment on the fibronectin-coated dishes was inhibited by GRGDSP RGD peptide at concentrations higher than 0.3 mg/ml; the inhibitory rate was 80% at a concentration of 2.0 mg/ml. The inhibition of cell attachment by GRGDSP RGD peptide on laminin-coated dishes appeared only at a concentration of 2.0 mg/ml, whereas no effects were observed on the type IV collagen-coated dishes. The inhibitory effects of GRGDSP RGD peptide on cell migration were measured in medium containing 2.0 mg/ml of GRGDSP RGD peptide after 1, 3, 5 and 7 days of culture. Cell migration was inhibited by GRGDSP RGD peptide from 1 day of culture on the fibronectin-coated dishes and from 5 days of culture on the laminin-coated dishes, whereas no effects were observed on the type IV collagen-coated dishes. GRGDSP RGD peptide inhibited cell attachment and migration on laminin and fibronectin that have RGD sequences. These data suggested that RGD peptide may have the potential to prevent PCO. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.