Expression of αsmooth muscle actin in lens epithelia from human donors and cataract patients

The presence of αSMA in DON, the absence of any correlation between mRNA level and age, and the modest increase in complexity of αSMA-containing structures in CAT argue against an inevitable link between αSMA expression and the development of age-related cataract. Low levels of αSMA expression may reflect repair of normal wear and tear. In pathologic situations such as PSO and ASF, persisting stimulation and additional incentives may induce increased αSMA expression and more elaborate patterning, eventually leading to completion of EMT.