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Title: [Effect of growth factors on the differentiation of porcine lens epithelial cells]. Author: Jong-Hesse YD, Lang GK, Kampmeier J, Lang GE. Journal: Klin Monbl Augenheilkd; 2004 Mar; 221(3):175-9. PubMed ID: 15052522. Abstract: BACKGROUND: Besides cell proliferation, transdifferentiation of lens epithelial cells (LECs) to myofibroblasts is one of the mechanisms of secondary cataract formation. This process is characterized by increased expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA). This study investigated the influence of bFGF, TGF-beta2, EGF and IGF-1 on the expression of alpha-SMA in porcine LECs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Porcine LECs were cultured for 7 days in serum-free medium without or with 1 to 50 ng/ml bFGF, TGF-beta2, EGF or IGF-I. Alpha-SMA was detected immunocytochemically with a mouse monoclonal antibody, and the relative numbers of alpha-SMA-positive cells were calculated. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's unpaired t-test. RESULTS: The ratio of alpha-SMA-positive cells cultured for 7 days in serum-free medium was 36 +/- 11.9 % (mean +/- SD). BFGF significantly reduced this ratio in a dose-dependent manner to 11.2 +/- 7.3 % at a concentration of 50 ng/ml (p < 0.0001). EGF reduced the ratio significantly to 25.1 +/- 15.7 % (p = 0.05) when 50 ng/ml were applied. IGF-1 (10 ng/ml) reduced the relative numbers of transdifferentiated cells to 16.8 +/- 5.8 %, but the reduction was not statistically significant (p = 0.0787). TGF-beta2 (50 ng/ml) slightly increased the relative number of alpha-SMA-positive cells to 44.2 +/- 13.8 %. However, this increase was not significant (p = 0.1202) during a culture period of 7 days. CONCLUSIONS: BFGF and EGF significantly reduced the expression of alpha-SMA by LECs while TGF-beta and IGF-1 had no statistically significant effect. These results suggest that bFGF and EGF do not primarily induce secondary cataract formation by the mechanism of cell transdifferentiation.[Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]