Human retinal extract stimulates the proliferation of human lens epithelial cells

The proliferation of lens epithelial cells remaining attached to the capsule after extracapsular cataract extraction represents a potential cause of posterior capsule opacification. In view of the reported mitogenic effects of eye derived growth factors on lens epithelial cells in animal studies, we determined to establish whether the human retina produces a factor capable of inducing a similar response in human lens epithelial (HLE) cells. We report that an extract of the human neural retina is capable of increasing the proliferative capacity of HLE cells in culture by 50%. The possible mechanisms are discussed. The presence of such a growth factor in the human eye would have important consequences for the epithelial cells remaining after cataract surgery.