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)

The naphthalene-induced cataract in rats has been studied for many years as a possible model of human aging-related cataract. While the molecular mechanism of this cataract is unclear, it has recently been demonstrated that the aldose reductase inhibitor ALO1576 can prevent lens opacification in this system. The present study was undertaken to investigate the molecular basis for the effects of naphthalene on the lens and the role of pigmentation in the cataractogenic mechanism. Cataracts were induced in five strains of rats (two pigmented, three albino) by oral administration of naphthalene. Initial lens changes were observed after 1 week by slit-lamp; by 3 weeks a distinct shell-like opacity was present in the deep cortex. Little difference in the course of opacification was found between the pigmented and albino strains. Major biochemical effects were a decrease of 20-30% in glutathione (GSH) by 1 week of feeding, disulfide cross-linking of lens proteins present by 3 weeks, and a nearly 20-fold increase in the content of protein-GSH mixed disulfide. No effect was seen in the ability of the affected lenses to accumulate activity [3H]choline or 86Rb from the medium in organ culture nor in the activity of the Na+/K(+)-ATPase. ALO1576 (10 mg kg-1 day-1) completely prevented all morphological and biochemical changes in the lenses of the naphthalene-fed rats in both pigmented and non-pigmented strains. These results indicate that pigmentation is not required for induction of naphthalene cataract in rats. Naphthalene dihydrodiol was found in the aqueous humor and lens of naphthalene-fed rats. It is proposed that naphthalene dihydrodiol produced in the liver reaches the aqueous humor and penetrates the lens where it is further metabolized ultimately to form the toxic species, naphthoquinone.
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PMID:The possible mechanism of naphthalene cataract in rat and its prevention by an aldose reductase inhibitor (ALO1576). 154 42

L-buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine (BSO), a specific inhibitor of GSH biosynthesis, was administered four times daily to mouse pups on post-natal days 7 and 8, inducing initiation of opacification on day 9. The initial progression of the cataract (less than 24 hr) was divided into four stages: (1) developing floriform; (2) mature floriform; (3) degenerate floriform; and (4) amorphous translucent cataract. Following this, dense corticonuclear opacities developed within several days. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of water-soluble whole lens extracts indicated that the most rapid early cataractous changes, occurring mainly during stage 2, were loss of the two major components of the heavy beta-crystallin fraction, a 31-kDa basic polypeptide and an acidic component at 27 kDa, concomitant with the appearance of new species at 30 and 25 kDa. This was followed by more extensive modification of both alpha and beta-crystallins during stages 3 and 4 and the appearance of abnormal species at 26, 19 and 18 kDa, which were slightly more acidic than the major normal alpha A-crystallin polypeptide. The gamma-crystallin components, relatively unaffected at stage 4, were then lost rapidly as dense opacities ensued. By contrast with the water-soluble fraction, the normal day 9 urea-soluble fraction was deficient in gamma-crystallin polypeptides and enriched in anodic components whose relative electrophoretic mobilities were similar to those reported previously for phosphorylated bovine alpha A-crystallin and several cytoskeletal polypeptides. At stage 4 of the cataract, the modifications of normal alpha and beta-crystallin components in the urea-soluble fraction paralleled those in the water-soluble fraction, but the products seen were more numerous. In addition, the cytoskeletal proteins were no longer detectable. Substantial increases in lens Ca2+ that precede all of the above changes in lens polypeptide composition suggest that Ca(2+)-activated proteolysis may play a major role in development of BSO cataracts.
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PMID:Progressive modifications of mouse lens crystallins in cataracts induced by buthionine sulfoximine. 162 46

Cataracts were induced in suckling mice by multiple injections of L-buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine (BSO), a specific inhibitor of GSH biosynthesis, starting on post-natal day 7. The earliest visible lens aberrations began approximately 2 days after t(o), following 99% depletion of lens GSH. Cataract development then proceeded through four stages within less than 24 hr. Elevated Na+ and Ca+ and decreased K+ were first detected in pre-cataractous (stage 0) lenses. During stage 0, lens Na+ and K+ levels displayed a significant inverse correlation; by contrast, Ca2+ levels were poorly correlated with those of Na+. The initial increase in Na+ exceeded the decrease in K+. This suggested the presence of osmotic stress prior to cataract stage 1 (developing floriform). Increased lens hydration was first apparent in stage 1, coincident with a marked elevation of Ca2+, further increase in Na+ and decrease in K+. These trends persisted in the stage 2 cataract (completed floriform). Subsequent changes in lens hydration and cation content during cataract stages 3 (degenerate floriform) and 4 (amorphous translucent) suggested substantial influx of extracellular fluid into the affected lenses. The BSO cataract may represent a useful in vivo model to study the functions of GSH in maintaining normal lens cation balance and transparency.
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PMID:Lens GSH depletion and electrolyte changes preceding cataracts induced by buthionine sulfoximine in suckling mice. 162 47

The ability of transparent and cataractous human, rabbit and mice lenses to metabolize hydrogen peroxide in the surrounding medium was evaluated. Using a chemiluminescence method in a system of luminol-horseradish peroxidase and a photometric technique, the temperature-dependent kinetics of H2O2 decomposition by lenses were measured. The ability of opaque human lenses to catalyze the decomposition of 10(-4) M H2O2 was significantly decreased. However, this was reversed by the addition of GSH to the incubation medium. Incubation of the mice lenses with the initial concentration H2O2 10(-4) M led to partial depletion of GSH in normal and cataractous lenses. Human cataractous lenses showed decreased activities of glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase (catalyzing reduction of organic hydroperoxides including hydroperoxides of lipids), superoxide dismutase, but no signs of depletion in activities of catalase or glutathione peroxidase (utilizing H2O2). The findings indicated an impairment in peroxide metabolism of the mature cataractous lenses compared to normal lenses to be resulted from a deficiency of GSH. An oxidative stress induced by accumulation of lipid peroxidation products in the lens membranes during cataract progression could be considered as a primary cause of GSH deficiency and disturbance of the redox balance in the lens.
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PMID:Peroxide-metabolizing systems of the crystalline lens. 173 65

The effect of the instillation of gamma-glutamylcysteinylethyl ester (gamma-GCE), which has been reported to function as a precursor of glutathione, on cataract formation was examined in rats in which diabetes had been induced by Streptozotocin (STZ). Three days after i.p. treatment with 50 mg/kg body weight of STZ, male Wistar rats aged 6 weeks received instillations of gamma-GCE in solution or liposomes prepared with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) for a period of 9 weeks. Cataract formation and development were observed by use of a cataract camera every week. After 9 weeks' observation, the lenses were enucleated and the content of the lens GSH was measured. Instillation of gamma-GCE in solution or liposomes to STZ-diabetic rats not only inhibited cataract formation but also kept lens GSH level almost at the control level. In addition, the inhibitory effect of the instillation of gamma-GCE in liposome was stronger than that of gamma-GCE in solution. The present results indicate that the administration of gamma-GCE in solution or in liposomes inhibits diabetic cataract formation, possibly by preventing lens GSH depletion.
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PMID:[The inhibitory effect of gamma-glutamylcysteinylethyl ester (gamma-GCE) instillation on experimental diabetic cataract formation in rats]. 183 18

Glucocorticoid-induced cataract formation appears to proceed via oxidation or peroxidation steps possibly caused by multiple activities of glucocorticoid in the living system. Attempts were made to modify GC-induced metabolic changes and prevent cataract formation using intermediates of the citric acid cycle. The compounds were applied to the embryos at 3, 10 and 20 hr after the administration of hydrocortisone succinate sodium (HC:0.25 mumol/egg) to 15-day-old eggs. At 48 hr after HC treatment the lenses were classified and analyzed. Almost all lenses were classified as stage IV-V (greater than 94%). However, the application of sodium isocitrate (IC:15 mumol/egg) which was the most potent among several intermediates tested showed a significant preventive effect against cataract formation. The administration of IC prevented the decline of GSH, the elevations of LPO and reduced the marked elevation of glucose in the lens caused by HC. The IC treatment also diminished the elevation of LPO in blood and liver. The above effects by IC on HC-induced events may be due to the action of IC in preventing the early decline of hepatic GSH caused by HC. Possibly IC was utilized as an intermediate of the citric acid cycle and a substrate for isocitrate dehydrogenase in cytosol to modify GC-induced metabolic changes.
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PMID:Preventive effect of isocitrate on glucocorticoid-induced cataract formation of developing chick embryo. 191 99

Glutathione and its related enzymes were measured for normal and cataractous human lenses. Glutathione decreased progressively with the development of cataracts. This decrease was more pronounced in the nucleus than in the capsule-epithelia of cataractous lenses. Glutathione reductase in nuclear extracts was relatively unchanged during cataract progress, while glutathione synthetase was significantly low in the advanced stages of cataracts. gamma-Glutamylcysteine synthetase was not measurable in the nuclei of cataractous lenses.
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PMID:Glutathione and glutathione-related enzymes in human cataractous lenses. 194 85

Lens opacities developed within 48-72 hr in mice that received a series of eight injections of L-buthionine sulfoximine, a specific inhibitor of glutathione (GSH) biosynthesis, on postnatal days 8 and 9. Initial histopathologic features consisted of swollen fibers in the central anterior cortex and displacement of cell nuclei from the bow region to the posterior cortex. These aberrations suggest early fiber cell membrane and/or cytoskeletal dysfunction. A massive wave of fiber cell lysis then engulfed the entire lens cortex and nucleus within 24 hr and left only epithelial cells intact, suggesting a concerted mechanism of cataract generation. The acellular core of the mature cataract seen on postnatal day 16 consisted of a granular matrix in which pycnotic and fragmented cell nuclei were located near the terminus of the lens epithelium. The epithelium displayed increased mitotic activity and meridional row disorganization. During the next two weeks, rapid regeneration of lens fibers, displacement of the acellular necrotic cytoplasm to the center and rear of the lens, and vacuole formation were observed. As new fibers were differentiated, partial regeneration of the bow was seen. However, the cataract was irreversible.
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PMID:Rapid deterioration of lens fibers in GSH-depleted mouse pups. 203 11

This study deals with the effects of the SH oxidizing agent diamide (diazene dicarboxylic acid bis-(N,N-dimethyl-amide)) on the water-soluble proteins from rabbit lenses. The dialyzed protein extracts were incubated for 0.5-1.5 h with various concentrations of diamide. Alterations in sulphydryl contents, gel filtration and gel electrophoresis profiles of proteins were recorded. The response to 2 mM diamide treatment for 1 h consists of rapid oxidation (up to 40%) of protein-bound sulphydryl groups accompanied by appearance of polypeptides with apparent molecular weights in excess of 68,000. A protein with a molecular weight of 29 kDa was shown to be specially involved in cross-linking. The linkages in the dialyzed water-soluble lens protein fraction induced by diamide may be reduced by GSH (10 mM) treatment of the protein extract. The main target of oxidative insult induced by diamide in the water-soluble proteins of the lens is probably the superficially localized sulphydryl groups of crystallins. Our observations suggest that this oxidative system of proteins may be a useful tool for cataract research.
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PMID:Diamide-induced cross-linking of the lens water-soluble proteins as a model of the early oxidative changes during senile cataract formation. 208 97

Effects of novel aldose reductase inhibitors, M16209 (1-(3-bromobenzo[b]furan-2-ylsulfonyl)hydantoin) and M16287 (1-(3-chlorobenzo[b]furan-2-ylsulfonyl)hydantoin), on galactose-induced cataract formation in rats were investigated. Rats fed a 30% galactose diet developed lenticular opacity in the peripheral region by the 6th day of galactose feeding and showed gradual progression of opacity from the equator to the center of lenses. Histological study on the 15th day showed apparent lens fiber swelling and vacuolation predominantly in the equatorial and anterior cortical regions. Biochemical changes such as accumulation of galactitol, depletion of myo-inositol and decrease in glutathione (GSH) content in lenses preceded the appearance of opacity. Remarkable increase in NADPH content and decrease in NADP+ content, in addition to elevation of the ratio of Na+/K+, in lenses were also observed on the 15th day. Both M16209 and M16287 (10, 30 and 100 mg/kg/day, p.o.) dose-dependently ameliorated these morphological and biochemical changes except that restoration of myo-inositol content was incomplete. These results indicate that M16209 and M16287 can prevent galactose-induced cataract formation through amelioration of metabolic disorders and thus have high potential for clinical use in the treatment of some diabetic complications.
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PMID:Effects of novel hydantoin derivatives with aldose reductase inhibiting activity on galactose-induced cataract in rats. 212 52


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