Figure 8

Spry can prevent TGFβ-induced ASC formation. Representative phase-contrast images of whole lenses (A–C) or epifluorescent images of lens epithelial whole mounts, with cell membranes stained with TRITC-conjugated lectin (A’-C’), from postnatal-d-15 lenses from either (A, A’) WT mice, (B, B’) transgenic mice overexpressing the mature form of human TGFβ1 specifically to the lens (TGFβ)or (C, C’) transgenic mice overexpressing TGFβ1 as well as Spry1 specifically to the lens (TGFβ/Spry1). In contrast to the transparent lens (A) and uniform monolayer of lens epithelia (A’) from WT mice, lenses from transgenic mice overexpressing TGFβ1 develop anterior subcapsular cataracts (B, arrowhead), reflected by the disruption to the ordered lens epithelium (B’, arrow). Increasing the levels of Spry1 specifically in lenses of transgenic mice overexpressing TGFβ1 prevents the formation of anterior subcapsular cataracts (C), with the retention of a monolayer of ordered lens epithelial cells (C’). Scale bar, A’-C’ = 20 µm.