1Meyer M. W., 2von Depka M., 1Schröder A., 2Wilhelm C., 1Erb C.

Augenklinik1 und Hämatologie2 der Medizinischen Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Deutschland

Objective: To determine the gene expression encoding for plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in pigmented ciliary epithelium cells of porcine eye and to detect PAI-1 activity in cell culture supernatants.
Methods: Total mRNA of confluent primary cultures of porcine ciliary epithelium cells and porcine kidney cells was isolated. Reverse transcribed PAI-1 mRNA was measured by real time polymerase chain reaction (Taqman PCR) with PAI-1 primers and probe deduced from the human PAI- gene. PAI-1 activity in supernatants of the cell cultures was determined by specific chromogenic test.
Results: PAI-1 mRNA was detected in different samples of primary cultures of porcine pigmented ciliary epithelium cells. As a negative control we analyzed total mRNA of porcine kidney cells. PAI-1 mRNA was not detectable in these cells. High levels of PAI-1 activity were found in all samples of cell culture supernatants (25-37 AU/ml).
Conclusion: PAI-1 is a main regulator of the fibrinolytic system. PAI- inhibits tissue plasminogen activator and urokinase-type plasminogen activator resulting in reduced plasminogen activity and attenuated fibrinolysis and proteolysis. Our results indicate that the ciliary epithelium cells are able to produce and secrete PAI-1. We suggest that PAI-1 overproduction in the ciliary epithelium may be involved in aequous outflow by reducing fibrinolysis and extracellular proteolysis in aequous humor and trabecular meshwork. Therefore stimulation of PAI-1 production is supposed to contribute to the pathogenesis of glaucoma by increasing the outflow obstruction.

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