Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41812973›Full record

ArticleExperimental eye research2026

Assessing the therapeutic effects of DPP4 Inhibitors on TGF-β2-induced Lens Opacity.

Niki Talebian, Pei-Kang Liu, Joanne Lee, Ya-Ling Lin, Dimitrios Stavropoulos, Chi-Yu Chen, Kun-Che Chang

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Experimental eye research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Niki TalebianDepartment of Ophthalmology, Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, USA.
Pei-Kang LiuDepartment of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Joanne LeeDepartment of Ophthalmology, Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, USA.
Ya-Ling LinDepartment of Ophthalmology, Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, USA.
Dimitrios StavropoulosDepartment of Ophthalmology, Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, USA.
Chi-Yu ChenDepartment of Ophthalmology, Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, USA. Electronic address: chc590@pitt.edu.
Kun-Che ChangDepartment of Ophthalmology, Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Center of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA; Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan. Electronic address: kcchang@pitt.edu.

Funding

Virus Production and Manipulation of Protein/Gene Expression ModuleP30EY008098 · NEI · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · PI John D Ash · 1989 to 2026
$17.8M
NEI NIH HHS P30 EY008098
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) is a common complication following cataract surgery, resulting from the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of lens epithelial cells (LECs). PCO continues to represent a significant public health challenge due to its detrimental impact on visual outcomes, with many patients requiring additional interventions. In this study, we evaluated the potential efficacy of DPP4 inhibitors-specifically Sitagliptin, Saxagliptin, and Vildagliptin-in mitigating TGF-β-induced EMT in LECs. We hypothesized that these inhibitors could reduce fibrotic changes in LECs and slow the progression of PCO. Human LECs and mouse lenses were pretreated with DPP4 inhibitors prior to exposure to TGF-β2. The expression of EMT markers, including fibronectin, vimentin, and α-smooth muscle actin, was assessed using immunostaining, Western blotting, and RT-qPCR. Both cellular and lens explant cultures demonstrated that DPP4 inhibitors attenuated the expression of TGF-β2-induced EMT markers by blocking Smad2 phosphorylation. Notably, lens explant cultures treated with Vildagliptin showed a reduction in lens opacity induced by TGF-β2. These findings suggest that DPP4 inhibitors, particularly Vildagliptin, may offer a novel, non-invasive pharmacological approach to preventing PCO by targeting TGF-β signaling pathways.

Indexed as

Capsule OpacificationDipeptidyl-Peptidase IV InhibitorsLens, CrystallineTransforming Growth Factor beta2ActinsAdamantaneAnimalsBlotting, WesternCells, CulturedDipeptidesDisease Models, AnimalEpithelial CellsEpithelial-Mesenchymal TransitionFibronectinsHumansMiceActinsAdamantaneDipeptidesDipeptidyl-Peptidase IV InhibitorsFibronectinsNitrilesPyrrolidinessaxagliptinSitagliptin PhosphateSmad2 ProteinTransforming Growth Factor beta2VildagliptinVimentinCataractDPP4 inhibitorEpithelium-mesenchymal transitionPosterior capsular opacificationSaxagliptinSitagliptinVildagliptin

Identifiers

PMID41812973
PMCPMC13425906

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.