title: Expression of protein gene product 9.5 in the anterior lens epithelial cells of atopic cataracts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the mechanisms of atopic cataract by immunohistochemically observing protein gene product 9.5 in lens epithelial cells (LECs) of atopic cataracts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Departments of Ophthalmology and Anatomy, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga, Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Specimens of anterior capsule obtained from 6 patients with atopic cataract and 8 patients with senile cataract were stained immunohistochemically and examined by light, electron, and confocal microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the LECs of the atopic cataracts, the arrangement and cell shape were varied. Immunohistochemistry for protein gene product 9.5 demonstrated selective localization, unlike with senile cataracts. This was especially prevalent in the spindle-shaped cells around the central opaque lesion. Protein gene product 9.5 positive cells overlapped with major basic protein positive cells in the atopic cataracts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that the properties of LECs of atopic cataracts are different from those of senile cataracts. Protein gene product 9.5 and major basic protein seem to be concentrated in atopic cataracts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology Shiga University of Medical Science, Japan. njunko@mx.biwa.ne.jp
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mekada
authors.forename: Jiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.forename: Yoshimitsu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tokunaga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013869:Thiolester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase
chemical_list: D013869:Thiolester Hydrolases; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase