Role of Smad3 signaling in the epithelial‑mesenchymal transition of the lens epithelium following injury
Abstract
Transforming growth factor‑β (TGF‑β) is important in the development of posterior capsule opacification (PCO), and inhibition of the TGF‑β pathway may represent a novel method of treating PCO. Drosophila protein, mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 (Smad3) is a phosphorylated receptor‑activated Smad required for the transmission of TGF‑β signals. Smad3 knockout (KO) disturbs the activation of TGF‑β signaling, thus inhibiting the onset of PCO. In the present study, lens epithelial cell (LEC) damage induced by extracapsular cataract extraction was simulated by puncture of the anterior capsule using a 26‑gauge hypodermic needle. The effect of Smad3 in the trauma‑induced epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) of the lens epithelium in Smad3‑KO and wild‑type (WT) mice was then observed. The expression levels of EMT markers and extracellular matrix components were measured in the two groups by reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis, western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining. Apoptosis was also detected in the punctured anterior capsule. The Smad3‑KO mice exhibited lower expression levels of α‑smooth muscle actin, lumican, osteopontin, fibronectin and collagen, compared with the WT mic...Continue Reading
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Effect of extracellular matrix on proliferation and differentiation of porcine lens epithelial cells
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Apoptosis
Apoptosis is a specific process that leads to programmed cell death through the activation of an evolutionary conserved intracellular pathway leading to pathognomic cellular changes distinct from cellular necrosis