title: Developmental factors of fibrous opacification in the atopic cataract lens capsule.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the developmental factors of fibrous opacification in the atopic cataract lens capsule.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signals (phosphorylated Smad2/3 and Smad7) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 in atopic cataract lenses by immunohistochemistry. The PAI-1 concentration in aqueous humor was also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lens epithelial cells of the atopic cataract lens capsule showed positive immunohistochemical staining for phosphorylated Smad2/3 and Smad7. Lens epithelial cells of the age-related cataract lens capsule were positive for phosphorylated Smad2/3, but negative for Smad7 by immunohistochemistry. All cells were negative for PAI-1. However, high concentrations of PAI-1 were detected in the aqueous humor of atopic cataract patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that TGF-β and PAI-1 contribute to fibrous opacification in the atopic cataract lens capsule.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan. s-suzuki@dokkyomed.ac.jp
authors.forename: Shigenari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Hironori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sagara
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Senoo
mesh_terms: D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002386:Cataract / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051899:Smad2 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D051900:Smad3 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D051906:Smad7 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; C051321:SERPINE1 protein, human; C497782:SMAD2 protein, human; C497790:SMAD3 protein, human; C497806:SMAD7 protein, human; D051899:Smad2 Protein; D051900:Smad3 Protein; D051906:Smad7 Protein; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta