title: High total TGF-beta 2 levels in normal human tears.
abstract: Mature and total TGF-beta 2 levels were determined in normal human tears, from 37 volunteers, using a quantitative "sandwich' enzyme immunoassay technique. Since this ELISA method recognizes only mature TGF-beta 2, total TGF-beta 2 levels in tears were measured after acid activation. Aqueous humor samples from 9 patients with cataract were also tested as controls. Mature and total TGF-beta 2 in aqueous humor (AH) averaged 182 pg/ml and 737 pg/ml, respectively. The levels of mature TGF-beta 2 in normal human tears ranged from 36 to 71 pg/ml (mean: 55 pg/ml). And the levels of total TGF-beta 2 ranged from 3446 to 14910 pg/ml (mean: 7854 Pg/ml), a very high level. Percentage of mature TGF-beta 2 ranged 0.4 to 1.3% (mean: 0.9%). It is reported for the first time that there are very high levels of total TGF-beta 2 in normal human tears.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kokawa
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sotozono
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000737:chemistry; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D013666:Tears / Q000737:chemistry*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta