title: Effect of genistein on proliferation of rabbit lens epithelial cell.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effects of genistein (inhibitor of receptor protein-tyrosine kinase) on the proliferation of rabbit lens epithelial cells (RLEC) and the activity of cell membrane receptor protein-tyrosine kinase (RTPK) of RLEC and approach the mechanism of genistein in prevention and treatment of after cataract.
  
  
  METHODS
  RLECs were cultured in vitro with the addition of 0 (control), 5, 10 and 15 mg/L genistein. The proliferation rates of the cells were measured by tritiated thymidine ((3)H-TdR) incorporation, and Casnetllie modified method was used to measure RTPK activities on the cell membrane after the action of various concentrations of genistein maintaining for 24 hours.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rates of (3)H-TdR incorporation in the cultures with 5, 10 and 15 mg/L genistein for 3 days were 630 +/- 137, 489 +/- 166 and 314 +/- 98, respectively. The rates were all different from the rate of the control significantly (P < 0.05), and the inhibition rate of cell proliferation was elevated along with the increase of the genistein concentration. After the maintenance of the action of genistein for 24 hours, the activity of RTPK was significantly lowered in the RLECs. The activity in the culture with 10 and 15 mg/L was significantly different from that in the control (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In vitro, genistein may inhibit the proliferation of RLECs via the inhibition of the activity of the cell membrane RTPK.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, First Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China (Email: kongjun@hotmail.com)
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Jinsong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Rao
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Diao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D019833:Genistein; D011817:Rabbits; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
chemical_list: D019833:Genistein; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases