Down regulation of the PEDF gene in human lens epithelium cells changed the expression of proteins vimentin and αB-crystallin

PURPOSE: To study the relationship of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) expression with the expression of vimentin and αB-crystallin by lens epithelial cells. METHODS: Lens epithelial cells adhering to anterior capsules taken from young donor eyes aged from 20 to 35 years were cultured and passaged. We designed small interfering RNA (siRNA) constructs to specifically downregulate the expression of PEDF by these primary lens epithelial cells. Quantitative PCR was used to confirm the downregulation of PEDF RNA expression following infection of lens epithelial cells. To determine whether altering the expression of PEDF would effect the expression of vimentin or αB-crystallin, we performed western blotting 48 h after expression of the PEDF-directed siRNA. RESULTS: PEDF RNA expression in the human lens epithelial cells was strongly downregulated by the three separate siRNA constructs. Western blotting revealed that the downregulation of PEDF expression resulted in a concomitant decrease in expression of vimentin and an increase in αB-crystallin protein. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased expression of PEDF in primary human lens epithelial cells resulted in a decrease in the expression of vimentin and the increase of αB-crystallin expression, two proteins critical for maintaining lens clarity.