title: Elevated TGF-β2 level in aqueous humor of cataract patients with high myopia: Potential risk factor for capsule contraction syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the level of transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2) in the aqueous humor of highly myopic cataract patients and its correlation with capsule contraction syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective comparative case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  The highly myopic cataract patients were divided into the following 2 groups according to the Lens Opacity Classification System III: nuclear color (NC) 2 to 3 and NC 5 to 6. Aqueous humor TGF-β2 concentrations were assayed in the highly myopic cataract and age-related cataract groups. The TGF-β2, TGF-βRII (the type II receptor for TGF-β2), and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expressions in lens epithelial cells (LECs) were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescent staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study comprised 40 highly myopic cataract patients (40 eyes) and 20 patients (20 eyes) with age-related cataract as the control group. Compared with the control group, the highly myopic cataract group had significantly higher TGF-β2 concentration in the aqueous humor and increased TGF-βRII expression in LECs, especially in NC 5 to 6 cases. Expression of α-SMA was barely detectable in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In highly myopic cataract patients, especially those with dark nuclei, elevated aqueous humor TGF-β2 levels and the upregulated TGF-βRII expression in LECs might contribute to the pathogenesis of capsule contraction syndrome through transdifferentiation of LECs into myofibroblasts.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  None of the authors has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Ophthalmology (Zhu, Chen, Zhang, Yang, Lu), Eye and Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital of Fudan University, the Key Laboratory of Myopia (Zhu, Chen, Zhang, Yang, Lu), Ministry of Health, and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration (Zhu, Chen, Zhang, Yang, Lu), Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xiang-Jia
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Ophthalmology (Zhu, Chen, Zhang, Yang, Lu), Eye and Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital of Fudan University, the Key Laboratory of Myopia (Zhu, Chen, Zhang, Yang, Lu), Ministry of Health, and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration (Zhu, Chen, Zhang, Yang, Lu), Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Min-Jie
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Ophthalmology (Zhu, Chen, Zhang, Yang, Lu), Eye and Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital of Fudan University, the Key Laboratory of Myopia (Zhu, Chen, Zhang, Yang, Lu), Ministry of Health, and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration (Zhu, Chen, Zhang, Yang, Lu), Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Ke-Ke
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Ophthalmology (Zhu, Chen, Zhang, Yang, Lu), Eye and Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital of Fudan University, the Key Laboratory of Myopia (Zhu, Chen, Zhang, Yang, Lu), Ministry of Health, and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration (Zhu, Chen, Zhang, Yang, Lu), Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Ophthalmology (Zhu, Chen, Zhang, Yang, Lu), Eye and Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital of Fudan University, the Key Laboratory of Myopia (Zhu, Chen, Zhang, Yang, Lu), Ministry of Health, and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration (Zhu, Chen, Zhang, Yang, Lu), Shanghai, China. Electronic address: luyieent@126.com.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000368:Aged; D057866:Anterior Capsule of the Lens / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002386:Cataract / Q000378:metabolism*; D003286:Contracture / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D047728:Myopia, Degenerative / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C541116:ACTA2 protein, human; D000199:Actins; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II