Proliferation in the posterior region of the lens of c-maf-/- mice.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the involvement of the c-maf gene in the proliferation of the lens cells.


METHODS
Eyes of the E13 and E18 stages of the wild-type and c-maf-/- mice were analyzed by BrdU incorporation assay, TUNEL assay and immunocytochemistry using a anti-P27(KIP1) and a anti-P57(KIP2) antibody.


RESULTS
In the E13 and E18 c-maf mutant lens, BrdU-positive cells were detected at the posterior region of the lens. Cell-cycle inhibitor P27(KIP1) and P57(KIP2) were expressed in the equatorial and posterior region of the lens of both wild-type and c-maf-/- lenses.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the expression of c-maf is required for differentiation and cell cycle arrest of lens fiber cells. It is also suggested that P27(KIP1) and P57(KIP2) were not involved in the continued proliferation of posterior region of the c-maf-/- lens.
Yoshida
K
K
Department of Ophthalmology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan. kyoshida@med.hokudai.ac.jp
Kim
J I
JI
Imaki
J
J
Hiromi
I
I
Nishi
S
S
Matsuda
H
H
Harada
T
T
Harada
C
C
Ohno
S
S
Sakai
M
M
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D002453:Cell Cycle; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27; D050761:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p57; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D051257:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-maf; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
C493961:Cdkn1b protein, mouse; C493965:Cdkn1c protein, mouse; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D050761:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p57; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C495608:Maf protein, mouse; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051257:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-maf; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27; D004247:DNA; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine