Interactions between Trabecular Meshwork Cells and Lens Epithelial Cells: A Possible Mechanism in Infantile Aphakic Glaucoma

Infantile aphakic glaucoma may develop as a postoperative complication of early childhood cataract surgery. It has been associated with risk factors including surgery in early life and retained lens material; however, its cause and mechanism are poorly understood. This study focused on the potential role of retained lens material (specifically, exposed lens epithelial cells [LECs]) in undesired changes of the trabecular meshwork (TM) structure and function. Interactions between LECs and TM cells were studied by analyzing structural changes and differential gene and protein expression in TM cells cocultured with LECs. Subjecting normal TM cells to the presence of LECs resulted in changes in their structural features (such as increase in volume and size, and decrease in cell-cell interactions), as well as in their protein expression (mainly cytoskeletal) and gene expression (such as genes related to organ and cell morphogenesis, inflammatory response, response to stimulus, ion homeostasis, and several signaling pathways). Many of the changes observed in TM cells after exposure to LECs resemble alternations seen in primary open-angle glaucoma. This strengthens the suspected role of LECs in the development of aphakic glaucoma.