Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0086543 (cataract)
 29,165 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Diabetes is known to be associated with an increase in aldose reductase activity, platelet hyperaggregability, lipid peroxidation, and cataract formation. A molecule, D-myo-inositol 1,2,6-trisphosphate (PP-56), derived from phytic acid, could in principle, by supplying myoinositol to tissues and acting as an antioxidant, counteract some of the manifestations of diabetes. Thus, the effects of PP-56 on platelet aggregation, fatty acids, and polyols were investigated in uncontrolled streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rat in relation to cataract and lipid peroxidation. A decrease in the response of platelet aggregation to thrombin and ADP (P less than 0.05, P less than 0.001) and in the level of sorbitol and the ratio sorbitol/myo-inositol (P less than 0.01) in platelets was observed in the rats treated by PP-56 for 7-8 weeks. These beneficial effects were associated with an incidence of cataract reduced by 26 to 44% (P less than 0.05 to P less than 0.001) depending on the duration of treatment. They were also accompanied by a significant lower plasma level of malondialdehyde (P less than 0.05), and, more markedly, of conjugated dienes (P less than 0.001) as well as an increase in platelet lipids of the 20:4(n-6)/20:3(n-6) ratio, an index of delta 5 desaturase activity. PP-56 appears to modulate fatty acid desaturases and aldose reductase in platelets and delay by a few weeks the development of cataract in this acute model of diabetes.
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PMID:Effect of D-myo-inositol on platelet function and composition and on cataract development in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. 138 35

Sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography methods were employed to assess regional distribution of adenine, guanosine and uridine nucleotides in clear and cataractous human eye lenses. According to slit-lamp examination, three forms of senile cataract were distinguished: (1) supranuclear or deep cortical cataract (typical senile cataract), (2) primary nuclear cataract (cataracta brunescens) and (3) subcapsular cortical cataract associated either with a supranuclear (3a) or a secondary nuclear cataract (3b). Except for AMP, which was highest in the nuclear fraction, all other nucleotides (ATP, ADP, GTP, and UTP) were predominantly located in the anterior cortex (plus epithelium) of clear as well as cataractous lenses, that is, ATP levels in the nucleus amounted to 20% of those found in the anterior cortex (plus epithelium); ATP levels in the posterior cortex were about 60% of those in the anterior cortex (plus epithelium). Significant differences in the absolute regional nucleotide level existed between the different forms of cataract. Highest ATP levels were found in the anterior cortex (plus epithelium) of clear lenses and deep or supranuclear cortical cataract. The ATP level was slightly diminished in primary nuclear cataract and in supranuclear cortical cataract when associated with an early subcapsular cortical cataract. ATP levels were depressed to less than 30% in the anterior cortex (plus epithelium) of lenses with a subcapsular cortical cataract when associated with either an early secondary nuclear or a mature cataract. Furthermore, the ATP/ADP ratio was decreased in this form of senile cataract. The decrease in lens nucleotide level did not correlate with increased age. These data suggest that decreases in regional ATP level are a secondary event and do not appear to be causally involved in the genesis of the 'cataracta senilis'.
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PMID:Nucleotide levels in human lens: regional distribution in different forms of senile cataract. 292 Jul 83

The level of lipid peroxidation products (LPP) was determined in the aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of patients with cataract and donor eyes. The content of LPP in senile cataract aqueous humor was shown to be significantly increased. To determine the possible mechanism of LPP increase in aqueous humor, human lenses at different stages of cataract as well as transparent human and rabbit lenses were incubated for 3 hours in 3.0 ml medium containing liposomes (0.5 mg/ml) prepared from phospholipids from the egg yolk and 0.14 M NaCl + 0.01 M TRIS-HCl buffer, pH 7.4). Corrections were made for phospholipid autooxidation. The level of LPP accumulation in the medium was determined by MDA assay. The rate of LPP production increased significantly in transparent lenses and in early senile cataract, as compared to controls and advanced (mature) cataracts. EDTA (1 mM), superoxide dismutase (114 u/sample), catalase (900 u/sample), chelated iron (III): Fe3+-ADP addition to the incubation medium depressed the level of LPP accumulation. This suggests the participation of Fe2+, O2-., H2O2 in the mechanism of LPP production in the lens. The induction of lipid peroxidation in the lens can be significant for leukotriene and prostaglandin synthesis in the eye.
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PMID:[Crystalline lens induction of lipid peroxidation]. 380 49

Six factors were analyzed which may be involved in the decline of glutathione synthesis in the aging lens and cataract, with special emphasis placed upon the human lens. The factors included: 1) lability of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase, 2) paucity of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase in primate lenses as compared to other mammalian lenses, 3) enzyme activity reduction with age in the human lens, 4) rate control by reactant scarcity, especially of cysteine and magnesium ion, 5) rate control by inhibition using 5'-AMP, 5'-ADP and glutathione, and 6) possible dissociation of the multi-enzyme complex. It was concluded that decline of the glutathione synthetic capacity in vivo would be most likely caused by reduction of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase activity rather than of glutathione synthetase activity.
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PMID:Lenticular glutathione synthesis: rate-limiting factors in its regulation and decline. 614 Jan 27

Dynamic changes in lens organophosphate metabolites during 24 hr incubation in 30 mM galactose media were measured with phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The following phosphates were quantitated from the intact crystalline lens: adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), inorganic orthophosphate, alpha-glycerophosphate, phosphorylated hexoses and trioses, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, uridine diphosphoglucose and uridine diphosphogalactose, glycerol-3-phosphorylethanolamine and 3-phosphorylcholine, and an unidentified phosphorus-containing molecule. The temporal sequences of metabolic events that define the dynamic rates of accumulation or depletion of lens organophosphates reveal that the first event in the decline of the tissue upon galactose incubation is a net consumption of ATP, which occurs as a sigmoidal function with time and which is typified by a characteristic half-life of 18 hr. Alpha-glycerophosphate accumulated at an increasing rate with time, whereas ADP, inorganic orthophosphate, and the other organophosphates were essentially unchanged. Cataract formation in the subcapsular and superficial cortical regions was visible after 16 hr incubation in the experimental buffer. These findings support the hypothesis that alterations in the organophosphate levels of the lens are contributing factors to the initial formation of the experimental galactose cataract.
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PMID:Dynamic changes in the organophosphate profile of the experimental galactose-induced cataract. 707 7

We quantitated the concentrations of the principal organophosphate metabolites present in the intact crystalline rabbit lens, measured the intralens pH, and evaluated dynamic changes during 24 hr incubations, using phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (P-31 NMR) spectroscopy. Tissue perchloric acid extracts prepared from these same lenses were analyzed by this technique to verify metabolite identifications and to quantitate the concentrations of the minor lens metabolites. Values for lens organophosphate concentrations, including three groups of previously unidentified phosphorus-containing substances, were established for freshly excised lenses, 24 hr incubated lenses, and lenses incubated in glucose-deficient media. Lens metabolite levels were not adversely affected by incubation in a medium previously shown to maintain lens clarity and ion transport capabilities. Conversely, lens incubation in glucose-deficient media induced significant metabolic changes characterized by a time-dependent decline in ATP, corresponding increases in ADP, inorganic phosphate, and phosphorylated hexoses. Cataract formation was noted after incubation in this medium. These findings support the hypothesis that alterations in the organophosphate levels of the lens actually preceded changes in the Na+ and K+ concentrations and therefore may be the "initiating factor" in formation of lens cataracts.
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PMID:Organophosphates of the crystalline lens: a nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic study. 729 74

The alteration of the lens with the age are mainly due to the diminishing of the energetic metabolism, whose consequence is the diminishing of the synthesis of poliphosphate nucleotides and RNA, decreasing also the protein synthesis. From a biomolecular point of view alterations of the DNA appear, because of the increase in the activity of ADP-ribosyl transferasis with the age. The progress of the cellular biology and the knowledge of the physiopathological mechanisms implied in the opacification of the lens, opens new prospects in the prevention of this form of cataract.
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PMID:[The physiopathology of primary cataract]. 757 98

Isolated rat lenses were exposed to oxidative stress generated by 100 microM H2O2, 2 mM ADP and 100 microM ferrous ammonium sulfate. Oxidation-induced cataract formation was followed by measuring loss of transmitted light intensity using quantitative digital image analysis, which offers distinct advantages over conventional photography. In the presence of oxidants, total and average light transmitted by the lens decreased exponentially as a function of time; the cortex showing a greater rate of decline in transmitted light intensity than the nucleus, which led to a change in the distribution pattern of light intensity. Lenses developing oxidative cataracts also showed a significant increase in diameter and an increase in the total wet weight. Maximal increase in lens diameter preceded maximal decrease in light intensity. These studies demonstrate the utility of quantitative image analysis in studying changes in lens geometry and transparency, and suggest that cataract formation is a single rate process.
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PMID:Digital image analysis of cultured rat lens during oxidative stress-induced cataractogenesis. 828 24

To elucidate the significance of Rho GTPase signaling on lens growth and structural integrity, we have selectively inactivated Rho GTPase in the ocular lens. To achieve this tissue-specific inactivation, a transgene encoding the C3-exoenzyme from Clostridium botulinum has been expressed in mice under transcriptional control of the lens-specific alphaA-crystallin promoter. C3-exoenzyme is known to selectively inactivate all Rho GTPase isoforms by ADP-ribosylating an asparagine residue at position 41. Mice expressing the C3-exoenzyme transgene exhibited selective ocular defects, including cataract and microphthalmia. Extralenticular effects included ocular hemorrhage (blood accumulation in the anterior and posterior chambers of the eye) and abnormalities of the iris including focal attachments to lens and cornea (synechiae). C3-transgene expression was found only in the lens and not in the other ocular tissues as determined by RT-PCR analysis. Histologic examination of the eyes of C3 transgenic mice from two independent lines revealed extensive abnormalities of the lens, including defective fiber cell differentiation and elongation, ruptured posterior lens capsule, and thickened anterior lens capsule. Electron microscopic analysis of hemorrhaged C3 eyes showed abnormalities in the posterior hyaloid vessels. Collectively these data reveal the importance of Rho GTPase signaling in regulating lens growth and maintenance of lens transparency.
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PMID:Rho GTPase inactivation impairs lens growth and integrity. 1185 May 36

The lens ability to protect against, and repair ultraviolet radiation (UVR) induced damages, is of crucial importance to avoid cataract development. The influence of UVR-induced damage and repair processes on the lens metabolites are not fully understood. Observation of short- and long-term changes in light scattering and the metabolic profile of pigmented rat lenses after threshold UVR exposure might serve to better understand the protective mechanisms in the lens. By using high resolution magic angle spinning (HR-MAS) 1H NMR spectroscopy it was possible to investigate the metabolites of intact rat lenses. Brown-Norway rats were exposed to 15 kJm(-2) UVB irradiation. One eye was exposed and the contralateral served as control. The rats were sacrificed 5, 25, 125, and 625 hr post-exposure and the lenses were removed. The degree of cataract was quantified by measurement of lens forward light scattering. Thereafter, proton NMR spectra from intact lenses were obtained and relative changes in metabolite concentrations were determined. The light scattering in the lens peaked at 25 hr post-exposure and decreased thereafter. The lowest level of light scattering was measured 625 hr after exposure. No significant changes in concentration were observed for the metabolites 5 and 25 hr post-exposure except the total amount of adenosine tri- and diphosphate (ATP/ADP) that showed a significant decrease already 5 hr after exposure. At 125 hr the lens concentrations of lactate, succinate, phospho-choline, taurine, betaine, myo-inositol, and ATP/ADP showed a significant decrease (p<0.05). Phenylalanine was the only metabolite that revealed a significant increase 125 hr post-exposure. At 625 hr most of the metabolic changes seemed to normalise back to control levels. However, the concentration of betaine and phospho-choline were still showing a significant decrease 625 hr after UVB irradiation. The impact of UVB irradiation on the metabolic profile did not follow the same time dependency as the development of cataract. While the light scattering peaked at 25 hr post-exposure, significant changes in the endogenous metabolites were observed after 125 hr. Both the metabolic changes and the light scattering seemed to average back to normal within a month after exposure. Significant decrease in osmolytes like taurine, myo-inositol and betaine indicated osmotic stress and loss of homeostasis. This study also demonstrated that HR-MAS 1H NMR spectroscopy provides high quality spectra of intact lenses. These spectra contain a variety of information that might contribute to a better understanding of the metabolic response to drugs or endogenous stimuli like UVB irradiation.
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PMID:Time dependency of metabolic changes in rat lens after in vivo UVB irradiation analysed by HR-MAS 1H NMR spectroscopy. 1618 52


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