J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2002 Dec;43(12):2543-2554.

Expression of growth factor, extracellular matrix and antioxidant (N-acetylcysteine) effect in TGF beta1 treated rat lens system

• Park MS
• Ahn CS
• Hong YS

Abstract

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to characterize transdifferentiated lens epithelial cells analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the expression of mRNAs encoding growth factors, growth factor receptors and pathologic extracellular matrix proteins and by Western blot analysis for the proteins encoded by these mRNAs. Moreover, after antioxidants treatment, such as Nacetyl cysteine (NAC), we observed the effect on changes in the expression of growth factors, growth factor receptors and extracellular matrix proteins.
METHODS
TGF-beta treated rat lens cultured with medium 199 (Sigma Co. St. Louis, MO) was subject to RT-PCR and Western blot analysis to assess expression of mRNAs and proteins encoded by these mRNAs.
RESULTS
The expression of mRNAs for TGF-beta 1, TGF-beta 2, TGF-beta 3, TGF-beta receptor, epidermal growth factor (EGF), epidermal growth factor receptor, fibroblast growth factor (FGF), fibroblast growth factor receptor and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) were increased. The levels of type I collagen, fibronectin, and alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA) mRNAs were also increased. However, the expression of growth factors, receptors, extracellular matrix were decreased by antioxidant, such as NAC.
CONCLUSIONS
The enhanced expression of growth factors, growth factor receptors and extracellular matrix in present the molecular mechanism underlying pathogenesis of cataracts. And the suppression of growth factors and growth factor receptors with treatment of antioxidants, such as NAC, suggests the possibility of using drugs in the prevention or treatment of cataracts.

Keyword

Lens epithelial cell; mRNA; Growth factors; Antioxidants

MeSH Terms

Actins
Animals
Antioxidants
Blotting, Western
Cataract
Collagen Type I
Connective Tissue Growth Factor
Cysteine
Epidermal Growth Factor
Epithelial Cells
Extracellular Matrix Proteins
Extracellular Matrix*
Fibroblast Growth Factors
Fibronectins
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
Rats*
Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor
Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor
Receptors, Growth Factor
Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta
RNA, Messenger
Transforming Growth Factor beta
Actins
Antioxidants
Collagen Type I
Connective Tissue Growth Factor
Cysteine
Epidermal Growth Factor
Extracellular Matrix Proteins
Fibroblast Growth Factors
Fibronectins
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
RNA, Messenger
Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor
Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor
Receptors, Growth Factor
Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta
Transforming Growth Factor beta