Synthesis of interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and basic fibroblast growth factor by human cataract lens epithelial cells

Purpose: To assay the following cytokines in an incubation medium of cultured lens epithelial cells (LECs) derived from human cataracts: interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1), interleukin (IL-6), basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and epidermal growth factor (EGF). Setting: Nishi Eye Hospital, Jinshikai Medical Foundation, Osaka, Japan. Methods: The anterior lens capsule with attached LECs was obtained by capsulotomy during cataract surgery and cultured. The incubation medium was changed on days 1 and 2 of culture and thereafter weekly up to 7 weeks. The media collected from a specific number of cultures at each medium change were pooled and assayed for cytokines by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Interleukin-1 alpha was detected in one of the two pools of the 2 week cultures (207 pg/10(6) cells), in two of the three pools of the 3 week cultures (120 pg/10(6) and 139 pg/10(6) cells), and in one of the two pools of the 4 week cultures (111 pg/10(6) cells). Interleukin-6 was detected in one pool of the 1 week cultures (195 pg/10(5) cells) and in one pool of the 7 week cultures (81.6 pg/10(5) cells). Basic FGF was detected in the incubation media from three series of samples during the culture time course: 87 pg/ml in the 1 day cultures in the first series; 478, 310, and 269 pg/ml in the 1 day, 2 day, and 1 week cultures, respectively, in the second series; and 98 and 83 pg/ml in the 1 and 2 day cultures, respectively, in the third series. The TNF-alpha and EGF were not detected in any sample. Conclusion: After cataract surgery, IL-1, 1L-6, and b-FGF may be produced in vivo by residual LECs, causing postoperative inflammation and LEC proliferation.