IDENTIFICATION OF INTRAOCULAR-LENS ADSORBED PROTEINS IN MAMMALIAN IN-VITRO AND IN-VIVO SYSTEMS

Objective: Mammalian in vitro and in vivo systems were used to study the protein-adsorbing potential of intraocular lenses (IOLs). Methods: Intraocular lenses composed of polymethyl methacrylate optics with polypropylene haptics were incubated in rabbit plasma for 3 hours (in vitro grouping) or implanted in rabbit eyes for 48 hours (in vivo grouping). Lens-adsorbed proteins from both experimental groupings were eluted with sodium dodecyl sulfate and identified by Western Blot analyses. Results: The adsorbed protein layer was composed of at least six different proteins, albumin, complement C3 fragments, IgG, fibrinogen/fibrin (as a fibrin clot in vivo), fibronectin, and transferrin. Of the identified components, albumin, IgG, fibronectin, and fibrinogen were the predominant protein species on the in vitro IOLs, while fibronectin and fibrin were on the in vivo IOLs. Conclusions: The composition of the protein layer has the potential to alter the biological property of IOLs.