Ultrastructure of Transformed Lens Epithelial Cells in Anterior Subcapsular Cataractous Lens.

Kim, Jong Chun; Kim, Jin; Lee, Jin Hak; Lee, Kyung Hun; Joo, Choun Ki

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 1998;39(6):1145-1152.
Published online June 1, 1998.

Ultrastructure of Transformed Lens Epithelial Cells in Anterior Subcapsular Cataractous Lens.

Jong Chun Kim, Jin Kim, Jin Hak Lee, Kyung Hun Lee, Choun Ki Joo

Department of Ophthalmology, Catholic University, Medical College, Our Lady of Mercy Hospital.

전낭하 백내장에서 변형된 수정체상피세포의 미세구조

김종찬(Jong Chun Kim),김 진(Jin Kim),이진학(Jin Hak Lee),이경헌(Kyung Heon Lee),주천기(Choun Ku Joo)

Abstract

Degeneration and transformation of lens epithelial cells (LECs) have been regarded as major causes of cataract and after-cataract. So behaviors of LECs have been studied in order to prevent some kinds of cataract and after-cataract, mainly in vitro. This study identified in vivo that human LECs beneath the anterior capsule were transformed in anterior polar type of cataract. Normal LECs showed positive staining for both cytokeratin and virnentin, while transformed LECs in the anterior polar type of cataractous lens were positive for vimentin only. Additionally, these transformed LECs seern to be fibrocytes without cellular junctions, are vertically or obliquely oriented, and spindle-shaped. These cells were embedded within 8 fibrillar meshwork rnass secreted by themselves. With this result it was found that LECs could be transformed into fibroblat like cells and this transformation of LECs were observed in anterior polar type of cataractous lens.

Key Words: After-cataract;Lens epithelial cells (LECs);Transformation