Expression of TGF-β₂ mRNA and PCNA, FN protein in lens epithelial cells in age-related nuclear and cortex cataract

Abstract

By using RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, the expressions of transforming growth factorβ₂(TGF-β₂) mRNA, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and fibronection (FN) protein in lens epithelial cells (LECs) of age-related nuclear and cortex cataract were detected and compared. The results of RT-PCR revealed that the expression of TGF-β₂ mRNA was higher in cortex cataract than in nuclear cataract. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that the expression of PCNA protein was lower and the expression of FN protein was higher in cortex cataract than in nuclear cataract. It was suggested that TGF-β₂, PCNA and FN might take important parts in the process of age-related cataract. Cortex cataract was related to the transdifferentiation of LECs, and nuclear cataract to the proliferation of LECs.

Keywords

TGF-β₂ / PCNA / FN / LECs / cataract / cortex / nuclear