ATF4 May Be Essential for Adaption of the Ocular Lens to Its Avascular Environment.

The late embryonic mouse lens requires the transcription factor ATF4 for its survival although the underlying mechanisms were unknown. Here, RNAseq analysis revealed that E16.5 null mouse lenses downregulate the mRNA levels of lens epithelial markers as well as known markers of late lens fiber cell differentiation.

The Immediate Early Response of Lens Epithelial Cells to Lens Injury.

Cataracts are treated by lens fiber cell removal followed by intraocular lens (IOL) implantation into the lens capsule. While effective, this procedure leaves behind numerous lens epithelial cells (LECs) which undergo a wound healing response that frequently leads to posterior capsular opacification (PCO). In order to elucidate the acute response of LECs to lens fiber cell removal which models cataract surgery (post cataract surgery, PCS), RNA-seq was conducted on LECs derived from wild type mice at 0 and 6 h PCS.

αVβ8 integrin targeting to prevent posterior capsular opacification.

Fibrotic posterior capsular opacification (PCO), a major complication of cataract surgery, is driven by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). Previously, αV integrins were found to be critical for the onset of TGF-β-mediated PCO in vivo; however, the functional heterodimer was unknown. Here, β8 integrin-conditional knockout (β8ITG-cKO) lens epithelial cells (LCs) attenuated their fibrotic responses, while both β5 and β6 integrin-null LCs underwent fibrotic changes similar to WT at 5 days post cataract surgery (PCS).

A simple method for quantitating confocal fluorescent images.

Western blotting (WB), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and flow cytometry (FC) have long been used to assess and quantitate relative protein expression in cultured cells and tissue samples. However, WB and ELISA have limited ability to meaningfully quantitate relative protein levels in tissues with complex cell composition, while tissue dissociation followed by FC is not feasible when tissue is limiting and/or cells difficult to isolate. While protein detection in tissue using immunofluorescent (IF) probes has traditionally been considered a qualitative technique, advances in probe stability and confocal imaging allow IF data to be easily quantitated, although reproducible quantitation of relative protein expression requires careful attention to appropriate controls, experiment design, and data collection.

Cataract surgeon viewpoints on the need for novel preventative anti-inflammatory and anti-posterior capsular opacification therapies.

To determine cataract surgeon viewpoints on the efficacy of available therapies/preventatives for two common sequelae of cataract surgery: inflammation and posterior capsular opacification (PCO). Cataract surgeons practicing worldwide specializing in adult, pediatric and veterinary patients were interviewed between March and August 2018. Ocular inflammation following cataract surgery is treated by either corticosteroids and/or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs).

Spatiotemporal dynamics of canonical Wnt signaling during embryonic eye development and posterior capsular opacification (PCO).

The appropriate spatial and temporal regulation of canonical Wnt signaling is vital for eye development. However, the literature often conflicts on the distribution of canonical Wnt signaling in the eye. Here, using a sensitive mouse transgenic reporter line, we report a detailed re-evaluation of the spatiotemporal dynamics of canonical Wnt signaling in the developing eye.