Together with elevated MAF and TGF-β1 signaling transducers found in the lens of highly myopic eye, it could be speculated that MAF might up-regulate crystallin expression in lens of high myopia by a direct activation of their promoters and by simultaneous activation of downstream TGF-β1-Smad signaling, which together underlies the pathological growth of lens in these eyes (Fig. 10). The gene discussed is MAF; the disease is myopia.