Posterior subcapsular cataracts (PSCs) occur frequently in diabetics and during treatment with ionising radiation or steroids, and are thought to result from disruption of the normal differentiation of lens epithelial cells into fibre cells. Wiley et al. show that loss of p53 in mouse lenses results in the formation of PSCs due to a failure to delete abnormally proliferating lens fibre cells. Enhancing p53 activity in the lens during therapies that are known to increase the risk of PSCs might therefore be a useful preventative strategy.
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Written by editorial staff. © 2011. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.
2011
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