TGF-β2 induces transdifferentiation and fibrosis in human lens epithelial cells via regulating gremlin and CTGF

Expression and clinical significance of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in Graves' ophthalmopathy

“…Evidence is accumulating for a crucial role of CTGF in the development and progression of ocular fibrosis including human tenon’s capsule fibroblasts,26 retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells,27 lens epithelial cells,28 corneal stroma fibroblasts29 and trabecular meshwork cells 30. Our study found that the protein expression levels of CTGF were higher in the orbital fibroblasts from patients with GO than that of controls.…”

Immunohistochemical Detection of CTGF in the Human Eye

“…Nevertheless, expression patterns in vascular endothelial cells change depending on the vessel site, 39 and moreover in states of disease, e.g., diabetic retinopathy. 40 Regarding CTGF results in the lens, several in vitro studies reported the presence or induction of CTGF in lens epithelial cells, 41 and CTGF was increased in lens epithelial cells in anterior polar cataract. 42 In situ hybridization of anterior subcapsular cataract revealed CTGF-mRNA in the cataractous plaques and transformed lens epithelial cells, but CTGF was absent in either lens fiber cells or non-transformed lens epithelial cells, 43 thus supporting our results of absent CTGF in lens epithelium.…”

Functions of Galectin-3 and Its Role in Fibrotic Diseases

“…Up to the present time numerous research efforts in the field of organ fibrosis have identified several polypeptide mediators important to the fibrotic process, such as platelet-derived growth factor, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-related protein 1, connective tissue growth factor, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-b1 (Bonner, 2004;Sureshbabu et al, 2011;Yu et al, 2013;Guo et al, 2014;Hao et al, 2014;Ma et al, 2014). Nevertheless, effective alternative targets and therapies are still urgently required.…”