Immunolocalization of TGF-beta1, -beta2, and -beta3, and TGF-beta receptors in human lens capsules with lens implants.
OBJECTIVE
To establish the alteration in expression pattern of transforming growth factor (TGF)-betas and their receptors during repair of lens capsules after cataract surgery, we immunohistochemically located TGF-beta isoforms and their receptors in human lens capsules before and after cataract surgery.


METHODS
Ten post-cataract surgery capsular specimens were obtained during vitrectomy. Three sections of the anterior capsules were obtained during cataract surgery. A whole lens capsular bag immediately after lens extraction was obtained during vitrectomy. Cryosections of these specimens were processed for immunohistochemical analysis for TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, TGF-beta3, TGF-beta receptor type I (TbetaR-I), type II (TbetaR-II) and type III (TbetaR-III), and were observed under light micros-copy.


RESULTS
Lens epithelial cells (LECs) lining the inner surface of the anterior capsules exhibited immunoreactivity for TGF-beta2 and TbetaR-II. Immunoreactivity for TGF-beta1, -beta3, TbetaR-I and TbetaR-III was negative. In the whole capsular bag specimen, equatorial LECs were positive for TGF-beta1 and -beta2, but not for -beta3. In post-cataract surgery specimens, antibodies for each TGF-beta isoform labelled either the LECs or ECM accumulated on the capsules. Post-surgical LECs expressed TbetaR-I and TbetaR-II, and had also TbetaR-III in seven of the nine specimens examined.


CONCLUSIONS
Expression pattern of TGF-beta s in quiescent LECs showed regional heterogeneity. Anterior LECs exhibited TGF-beta2 immunoreactivity, while equatorial LECs were positive for TGF-beta1 and -beta2. Quiescent LECs expressed TbetaR-II. LECs proliferating around IOLs expressed proteins of each TGF-beta isoform and each TbetaR. TGF-beta s were also localized in the ECM on capsules undergoing repair. TGF-beta3, TbetaR-I and TbetaR-III are up-regulated in LECs after cataract surgery.
Saika
S
S
Department of Ophthalmology, Wakayama-city, Wakayama, Japan.
Miyamoto
T
T
Kawashima
Y
Y
Okada
Y
Y
Yamanaka
O
O
Ohnishi
Y
Y
Ooshima
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000378:metabolism*; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000378:metabolism; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*
D020033:Protein Isoforms; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta