title: Expression of transcription factors Slug in the lens epithelial cells undergoing epithelial-mesenchymal transition induced by connective tissue growth factor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of transcription factors Slug in human lens epithelial cells (HLECs) undergoing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by connective tissue growth factor (CTGF).
  
  
  METHODS
  HLECs were treated with CTGF of different concentrations (20, 50 and 100 ng/mL) or without CTGF (control) for 24h. The morphological changes of HLECs were analysed by microscopy. The expression and cellular localization of Slug was evaluated by immumo-fluorescence. Expressions of Slug, E-cadherin and alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were further determined by Western blot analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HLECs showed spidle fibrolasts-like characteristics and loosely connected each other after CTGF treatment. The immuno-fluorescence staining indicated that Slug was localized in the nuclei and its expression was induced by CTGF. The relative expressions of Slug protein were 1.64±0.11, 1.96 ±0.03, 3.12 ±0.10, and 4.08±0.14, respectively, in response to control group and treatment with CTGF of 20, 50 and 100 ng/mL (F=443.86, P<0.01). The increased Slug protein levels were correlated well with up-expression of α-SMA (0.78±0.05, 0.85±0.06, 2.17±0.15, 2.86±0.10; F=449.85, P<0.01) and down-expression of E-cadherin (2.50±0.11, 1.79±0.26, 1.05±0.14, 0.63±0.08; F=101.55, P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transcription factor Slug may be involved in EMT of HLECs induced by CTGF in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Medical School of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Ying-Na
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital, 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, Medical School of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Jing-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pei
keywords: adhesion molecules E-cadherin; alpha smooth muscle actin; connective tissue growth factor; epithelial-mesenchymal transition; human lens epithelial cells; transcription factors Slug