By using RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, the expressions of transforming growth factor beta2 (TGF-beta2) mRNA, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and fibronection (FN) protein in lens epithelial cells (LECs) of age-related nuclear and cortex cataract were detected and compared. The results of RT-PCR revealed that the expression of TGF-beta2 mRNA was higher in cortex cataract than in nuclear cataract. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that the expression of PCNA protein was lower and the expression of FN protein was higher in cortex cataract than in nuclear cataract. It was suggested that TGF-beta2, PCNA and FN might take important parts in the process of age-related cataract. Cortex cataract was related to the transdifferentiation of LECs, and nuclear cataract to the proliferation of LECs.