Inflammatory response in the induction of the posterior capsule opacification after cataract surgery

Abstract

The most frequent complication of cataract surgery is posterior capsule opacification (PCO), which is caused by the proliferation of lens epithelial cells that remain after surgery. This cells, migrate to the posterior capsule and/or the intraocular lens implanted, suffer epithelial-mesenchymal transition, similar to what occurs during embryological development, leading to fibrosis, contraction of capsular tissue and finally to the opacity. The inflammatory response is evidenced by the infiltration of phagocytic cells and the increase in proinflammatory cytokines and mediators such as IL-2, IL-1, TGF-, IL-6, TNF- nitric oxide and prostaglandins, in the first days, after surgery, temporarily changing the conditions of immunologic privilege of the anterior chamber. These cytokines, mainly TGF-, modulate the changes in epithelial cells of the lens, therefore, suggests that the inflammatory response, could be involved in the pathogenesis of PCO.