Purpose: To analyze the gene expression of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) in human lens epithelial cells (LECs) by in situ RNA hybridization.
Setting: Department of Ophthalmology and Laboratory for Molecular Biology, Charité, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
Methods: Anterior lens capsules with attached LECs were collected in RNase-free conditions from 10 consecutive patients during cataract surgery. Samples were then systematically analyzed by an in situ RNA-hybridization technique using specific gene probes for IL-1 alpha and TNF alpha, which were previously labeled with digoxigenin (DIG).
Results: The LECs tested positive for DIG-labeled gene probes in the described conditions. One (10%) patient showed a clearly detectable IL-1 alpha gene expression, and 7 (70%) showed a widely positive reaction for TNF alpha mRNA.
Conclusion: The TNF alpha gene expression in LECs was more extended than that of IL-1 alpha in lens capsule samples from cataract surgery. Active synthesis of TNF alpha and IL-1 alpha may have consequences for postoperative inflammation and LEC proliferation.