葡萄膜炎并发白内障患者晶状体前囊膜中NLRP3炎症小体相关蛋白的表达和前囊膜超微结构改变

目的探究葡萄膜炎并发白内障患者晶状体前囊膜中NLRP3炎症小体相关蛋白的表达和前囊膜超微结构改变。方法随机选取2018年8月至2019年6月在我院诊治的葡萄膜炎并发白内障患者17例(22眼)作为试验组;老年性白内障患者10例(18眼)作为对照组。均于白内障超声乳化手术中环形撕囊获取前囊膜。采用免疫组织化学法检测两组患者晶状体前囊膜NLRP3炎症小体的三个组成结构NLRP3、Caspase-1和接头蛋白ASC的蛋白表达,并对前囊膜进行电镜观察。结果两组患者晶状体前囊膜中均有NLRP3炎症小体相关蛋白的表达;试验组晶状体前囊膜中NLRP3、Caspase-1及接头蛋白ASC(光密度值分别为0.383±0.067、0.313±0.058、0.335±0.035)表达水平均明显高于对照组(光密度值分别为0.330±0.085、0.271±0.039、0.268±0.036)(均为P<0.05)。试验组患者前囊膜的晶状体上皮细胞可见明显的细胞核固缩,染色质浓缩边集,细胞核膜皱褶、轻度增宽,线粒体形态基本正常、部分线粒体嵴突消失,细胞质中可见典型的凋亡小体。对照组有轻度凋亡改变。结论NLRP3炎症小体可能参与了葡萄膜炎并发白内障的发病过程,细胞凋亡是葡萄膜炎并发白内障的重要病理改变。

Expression of NLRP3 inflammasome related protein and ultrastructure changes in lens anteriorcapsule of uveitis complicated with cataracts

Objective　To investigate the expression of NLRP3 related proteins in the anterior capsule of cataract complicated with uveitis and observe its ultrastructural changes. Methods　From August 2018 to June 2019, 17 patients (22 eyes) of cataract associated with uveitis were randomly selected as experimental group and 10 patients (18 eyes) of age-related cataract were randomly selected as control group. The anterior capsule was obtained by posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis during phacoemulsification. Immunohistochemical will be used in the experimental group and the control group to test the expressions of NLRP3 inflammasome, which contains NLRP3, Caspase-1protein,andapoptosis-related speckle protein（ASC）. The ultrastructural changes in anterior capsule were observed under electron microscope. Results　NLRP3 inflammasome related protein was expressed in the anterior capsule of the lens in both groups. In the anterior capsule of the lens in the experimental group, the expression levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1 and ASC (optical density was 0.383±0.067, 0.313±0.058 and 0.335±0.035, respectively) were significantly higher than those in the control group (optical density was 0.330±0.085, 0.271±0.039 and 0.268±0.036, respectively) (all P<0.05). There were obvious changes in the anterior capsule of the lens in the experimental group, such as nuclear condensation, chromatin concentration edge set, cell nuclear fold and slight widening. Mitochondrial morphology was basically normal, and some of the mitochondrial cristae disappeared, and the typical apoptosis body could be seen in the cytoplasm. Slight apoptosis changes were observed in the control group. Conclusion　NLRP3 inflammasome may be involved in the development of uveitis combined with cataract. Apoptosis is an important pathological change in cataract complicated with uveitis.