Extracellular matrixes influence a-smooth muscle actin expression in cultured porcine lens epithelial cells

Abstract

PURPOSE. To determine whether extracellular matrix (ECM) influences the expression of a-smooth muscle actin (a-SMA), a marker for myofibroblasts, in cultured porcine lens epithelial cells (LECs). METHODS. Porcine LECs were cultured for 6 days in an F-12 nutrient mixture supplemented with 5% fetal bovine serum on wells that were coated with laminin, fibronectin, type I collagen, or type IV collagen. LECs cultured on uncoated wells served as a control. Alpha-SMA was detected immunocytochemically with a mouse monoclonal antibody, and the ratio of the number of a-SMA-positive cells to the total number of cells, the P/T ratio, was calculated. RESULTS. The P/T ratio of the LECs on the uncoated dishes was about 5%. LECs cultured on wells coated with laminin or type IV collagen significantly reduced the ratio, whereas fibronectin or type I collagen had no effect. CONCLUSIONS. The ECM influences a-SMA expression in cultured porcine LECs.