Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Vol 38, 1543-1554, Copyright © 1997 by Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology

ARTICLES AND REPORTS

Hepatocyte growth factor, keratinocyte growth factor, and other growth factor-receptor systems in the lens

J Weng, Q Liang, RR Mohan, Q Li and SE Wilson
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, USA.

PURPOSE: To examine the expression and function of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and other growth factor-cytokine-receptor systems in lens epithelial cells. METHODS: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Northern blot analysis were used to examine the expression of messenger RNAs in primary cultured rabbit and human lens cells and in ex vivo rabbit lens tissue. Protein expression and the effect of HGF and KGF on crystallin expression in lens epithelial cells were evaluated by immunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis. The effect of exogenous HGF, KGF, and EGF and of the coculture of lens epithelial cells with corneal endothelial cells on the proliferation of rabbit lens cells in a Transwell system was determined by cell counting. RESULTS: Messenger RNAs and proteins of HGF and KGF were expressed in primary rabbit lens epithelial cells and in ex vivo rabbit lens epithelial tissue. Human lens cells also expressed the mRNAs. Other growth factors and receptor messenger RNAs were also expressed. Hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factors, and coculture with corneal endothelial cells stimulated proliferation of rabbit lens epithelial cells. In first-passage rabbit lens cells, HGF, KGF, and EGF increased the expression of alpha and beta crystallins. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factor-receptor systems are expressed in lens cells. HGF and KGF are not expressed in epithelial cells in such tissues as skin, cornea, and lacrimal gland in which fibroblastic and epithelial cells interact in the formation of an organ. Expression of these growth factors in the lens may have evolved because the lens cells are relatively isolated within the anterior chamber of the eye. Our results suggest, however, that growth factors released by the corneal endothelium also could modulate lens functions (aquecrine interactions).

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y.-B. Shui and D. C. Beebe Age-Dependent Control of Lens Growth by Hypoxia Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., March 1, 2008; 49(3): 1023 - 1029. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. M.D. Tholozan, C. Gribbon, Z. Li, M. W. Goldberg, A. R. Prescott, N. McKie, and R. A. Quinlan FGF-2 Release from the Lens Capsule by MMP-2 Maintains Lens Epithelial Cell Viability Mol. Biol. Cell, November 1, 2007; 18(11): 4222 - 4231. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. W. Finch and J. S. Rubin Keratinocyte growth factor expression and activity in cancer: implications for use in patients with solid tumors. J Natl Cancer Inst, June 21, 2006; 98(12): 812 - 824. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Lois, J. Taylor, A. D. McKinnon, G. C. Smith, R. van't Hof, and J. V. Forrester Effect of TGF-{beta}2 and Anti-TGF-{beta}2 Antibody in a New In Vivo Rodent Model of Posterior Capsule Opacification Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., November 1, 2005; 46(11): 4260 - 4266. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. J. Brown, B. Lin, and B. Holguin Expression of Neuregulin 1, a Member of the Epidermal Growth Factor Family, Is Expressed as Multiple Splice Variants in the Adult Human Cornea Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., September 1, 2004; 45(9): 3021 - 3029. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Maidment, G. Duncan, S. Tamiya, D. J. Collison, L. Wang, and I. M. Wormstone Regional Differences in Tyrosine Kinase Receptor Signaling Components Determine Differential Growth Patterns in the Human Lens Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., May 1, 2004; 45(5): 1427 - 1435. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. M. Wormstone, S. Tamiya, I. Anderson, and G. Duncan TGF-{beta}2-Induced Matrix Modification and Cell Transdifferentiation in the Human Lens Capsular Bag Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., July 1, 2002; 43(7): 2301 - 2308. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. J. Collison and G. Duncan Regional Differences in Functional Receptor Distribution and Calcium Mobilization in the Intact Human Lens Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., September 1, 2001; 42(10): 2355 - 2363. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. M. Wormstone, K. Del Rio–Tsonis, G. McMahon, S. Tamiya, P. D. Davies, J. M. Marcantonio, and G. Duncan FGF: An Autocrine Regulator of Human Lens Cell Growth Independent of Added Stimuli Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., May 1, 2001; 42(6): 1305 - 1311. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				I. M. Wormstone, S. Tamiya, J. M. Marcantonio, and J. R. Reddan Hepatocyte Growth Factor Function and c-Met Expression in Human Lens Epithelial Cells Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., December 1, 2000; 41(13): 4216 - 4222. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				E. A. Blakely, K. A. Bjornstad, P. Y. Chang, M. P. McNamara, E. Chang, G. Aragon, S. P. Lin, G. Lui, and J. R. Polansky Growth and Differentiation of Human Lens Epithelial Cells In Vitro on Matrix Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., November 1, 2000; 41(12): 3898 - 3907. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				A. Cantón, R. Burgos, C. Hernández, C. Mateo, R. M Segura, J. Mesa, and R. Simó Hepatocyte growth factor in vitreous and serum from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy Br. J. Ophthalmol., July 1, 2000; 84(7): 732 - 735. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. E. Ireland and L. K. Mrock Differentiation of Chick Lens Epithelial Cells: Involvement of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and Endogenous Ligand Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., January 1, 2000; 41(1): 183 - 190. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				K. Shinoda, S. Ishida, S. Kawashima, T. Wakabayashi, T. Matsuzaki, M. Takayama, K. Shinmura, and M. Yamada Comparison of the levels of hepatocyte growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor in aqueous fluid and serum with grades of retinopathy in patients with diabetes mellitus Br. J. Ophthalmol., July 1, 1999; 83(7): 834 - 837. [Abstract] [Full Text]