Research Paper Volume 13, Issue 13 pp 17568—17591

Aging-dependent loss of GAP junction proteins Cx46 and Cx50 in the fiber cells of human and mouse lenses accounts for the diminished coupling conductance

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Figure 4. Comparison of the connexins Cx43, Cx46 and Cx50 levels in the epithelia of human cataractous lenses of different age groups. (A) Relative expression levels of Cx43, Cx46 and Cx50 in the epithelia of human cataractous lenses of different age groups as indicated (50s, 60s,70s, 80s). Each bar represents an average of 12 samples for cataract lenses. (B) Summary of age-dependent changes of Cx43, Cx46 and Cx50 in cataract samples of different age groups. The levels of all samples from the patients of 50s age group are used as references indicated by star symbol ‘*’. +, ++, and +++ represent increases in protein levels between 0.1% and 24.99%, 25% and 50%, and >50%, respectively; −, −−, and −−− stands for decreases in protein levels between 0.1% and 24.99%, 25% and 50%, and >50%, respectively.