Abstract:

Objective      To investigate the effect of pressure on expressions of endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1(ELAM-1), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-3 and Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2(TIMP-2) in porcine trabecular cells cultured in vitro.  Methods     Porcine trabecular cells were cultured, passaged and identified. The third passage generation trabecular cells were treated under pressure of 20, 40, 60 and 80mmHg(1kPa=7.5mmHg) in the treatment group to establish a cell-level glaucoma model, while no pressure(0mmHg) was given to the control group. Immunocytochemical staining was used to observe expression of ELAM-1 after 6 hours’culture, and expressions of MMP-2, MMP-3 and TIMP-2 after 24 hours’culture. Staining results were statistically analyzed. Results    The cultured cells were identitied as porcine trabecular cells. Expression of ELAM-1 was not detectd in trabecular cells of the control group,while expressions of MMP-2, MMP-3 and TIMP-2 were observed in small quantity. When pressure was 40, 60 or 80mmHg, expression of ELAM-1 significantly increased compared with the 0mmHg group and 20mmHg group. When pressure was 40 or 60mmHg, expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 significantly increased compared with the 0mmHg group, 20mmHg group and 80mmHg group. Expression of MMP-3 had no significant variation. Conclusion     A rise of pressure can induce an increase in expressions of ELAM-1, MMP-2 and TIMP-1 in cultured porcine trabecular cells, causes unbalance of MMPs/TIMPs, affects metabolism of extracellularmatrix(ECM) and increasesaqueous outflow. Expressions of ELAM-1 and MMPs may contribute to pathogenesis of glaucoma.

Key words: Pressure; Trabecular cells; Endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1; Matrix metalloproteinases