title: Expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) mRNA in plaques of human anterior subcapsular cataracts and membranes of posterior capsule opacification.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the correlation between connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) mRNA expression and immunohistochemical characteristics of anterior subcapsular cataract (ASC) formation as well as posterior capsule opacification (PCO) development (expression of type I collagen, alpha-smooth muscle actin and tenascin) under in vivo and under in vitro conditions in human and porcine lens epithelial cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  CTGF mRNA expression was investigated using in situ hybridization and RT-PCR. Expression of type I collagen, alpha-smooth muscle actin and tenascin was detected by immunohistochemical staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CTGF mRNA was expressed in human cataractous plaques of ASC and human PCO membranes, and appeared simultanously with the expression of type I collagen, alpha-smooth muscle actin and tenascin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The predominant expression of CTGF mRNA in human ASC and human PCO membranes suggests a significant role of CTGF in the pathological course of these ocular disorders.
authors.affiliation: University Eye Clinic, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wunderlich
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pech
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Eberle
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mihatsch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Flammer
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D002386:Cataract / Q000378:metabolism*; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019063:Tenascin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; C526317:CCN2 protein, human; D006133:Growth Substances; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019063:Tenascin; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D003094:Collagen