Expression Of Transforming Growth Factor-β₁ (TGF-β₁) In Lens Epithelial Cells(LECs) Of Type â…¡ Diabetes Patients With Cataract

Objective: To compare the levels of mRNA expression of transforming growth factor-β₁ (TGF-β₁) in human lens epithelial cells (LECs) from cataract patients with or without typeâ…¡diabetes mellitus, as well as that from patients in different stages of diabetic retinopathy (DRP). To study the possible effects and mechanisms of TGF-β₁ on typeâ…¡diabetes patients with cataract, and to analyze the relationship between cataract and retinopathy in diabetes patients.Methods: Lens anterior capsules with attached lens epithelial cells (LECs) from 16 cataract patients without the clinical diagnosis of typeâ…¡diabetes mellitus (control group) and 29 cataract patients with it (diabetic group) were collected during surgery of phacoemulsification extracapsular cataract extraction and IOLs implantation. The total cellular RNA was extracted from LECs and the mRNA expression levels of TGF-β₁ were determined by semiquantitative reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). According to the newly international clinic classification of DRP, 29 cataract patients with typeâ…¡diabetes in the diabetic group were divided into five subgroups in terms of the different clinic stages of the diabetic retinopathy.Results: The mRNA expression of TGF-β₁ was significantly greater...