title: Effects of transforming growth factor β2 and connective tissue growth factor on induction of epithelial mesenchymal transition and extracellular matrix synthesis in human lens epithelial cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of transforming growth factor β2 (TGF-β2) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) on transdifferentiation of human lens epithelial cells (HLECs) cultured in vitro and synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM).
  
  
  METHODS
  HLECs were treated with TGF-β2 (0, 0.5, 1.0, 5, 10µg/L) and CTGF (0, 15, 30, 60, 100µg/L) for different times (0, 24, 48, 72h) in vitro and the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), the main component of the extracellular matrix type I collagen (Col-1) and fibronectin (Fn) were measured by using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western-blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TGF-β2 and CTGF significantly increased expression of α-SMA mRNA and protein (P<0.05, P<0.001), Fn mRNA and protein (P<0.001), Col-1 mRNA and protein (P<0.001). TGF-β2 could induce HLECs expression of CTGF mRNA and protein in dose-dependent manner (P<0.05, P<0.001). TGF-β2 and CTGF could induce HLECs to express α-SMA, Fn and Col-1 in time-dependent manner. Each time of TGF-β2 and CTGF induced HELCs expression of α-SMA, Fn, Col-1 mRNA and protein was significant increase compared with control (P<0.05, P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TGF-β2 and CTGF could induce HLECs epithelial mesenchymal transition and ECM synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.affiliation: Medical School of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Qian-Yan
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Li-Jun
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Cui
keywords: connective tissue growth factor; extracellular matrix; fibronectin; human lens epithelial cells; posterior capsular opacification; transforming growth factor β2; type I collagen; α-smooth muscle actin