Statin expression associated with terminally differentiating and postreplicative lens epithelial cells.

The expression of a nuclear (57 kDa) protein statin has been previously characterized as a specific marker of quiescent or senescent aging human fibroblasts in vitro. In these studies we have shown that the expression of statin is associated specifically with the postreplicative and terminally differentiating lens epithelial cell. By monitoring the synthesis of specific lens crystallin proteins, and the morphological and cellular changes associated with this differentiated system, we have demonstrated a close correlation between statin expression and cell commitment to the G0 nonreplicative cell cycle state.