[The age-related effect of basic fibroblast growth factor on the proliferation of lens epithelial cells].

OBJECTIVE

To detect the age-related effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on the proliferation of human lens epithelial cells (HLECs) in patients with cataract and discuss the mechanism.

METHODS

Human lens anterior capsules with attached HLECs were cultured in vitro, treated with 10 microg/L bFGF for 48hr, and then the positive area ratio of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in immunohistochemistry was estimated. Immunohistochemical analysis of bFGF receptor was also carried out.

RESULTS

The bFGF could enhance the HLEC proliferation in patients with cataract at various ages. The enhancement of the proliferation and the expression of bFGF receptor protein were negatively correlated to the age of the patients with cataract (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The basic fibroblast growth factor might play an important role in the formation of posterior capsular opacity (PCO) after cataract surgery. With the decrease in the patient's age, the enhancement of HLEC proliferation is increased, indicating that the fact is related to the high incidence of PCO in children.