[Gene expression of basic fibroblast growth factor receptor in bovine lens epithelial cells].

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the mechanism of promotive effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on proliferation of lens epithelial cells.

METHODS

RNA was extracted from cultured bovine lens epithelial cells of second passage and then cDNA was synthesized with reverse transcription. cDNA segments were amplified by polymerase chain reaction using bFGF receptor oligonucleotide primer from sequence of fibroblast cells in human placenta. Then, amplified cDNA segments were cloned and sequenced by Sanger method of dideoxy-chain termination.

RESULTS

It was found that the bFGF receptor mRNA in bovine lens epithelial cells was detected and partial amino-acid sequences of bovine bFGF receptor are almost the same as that of human's except 3 amino-acids.

CONCLUSIONS

bFGF receptor exists in lens epithelial cells, and when bFGF is bound to its receptor, the binding plays an important role in lens epithelial cell proliferation and capsular opacity after cataract surgery.