scholarly journals Structural Characteristics of the Lens in Presenile Cataract

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofija Andjelic ◽  
Kazimir Drašlar ◽  
Anastazija Hvala ◽  
Marko Hawlina
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Lens Epithelium ◽  
Lens Epithelial Cells ◽  
Cortical Cataract ◽  
Apical Side ◽  
Cataract Patients ◽  
Presenile Cataract

The purpose of this work is to examine the structure of the anterior lens epithelial cells (aLECs) of presenile idiopathic cortical cataract to investigate the possible structural reasons for its development. The anterior lens capsules (aLCs: basement membrane and associated lens epithelial cells) were obtained from routine uneventful cataract surgery of 5 presenile cataract patients (16 and 41 years old women and 29, 39, and 45 years old men). None of the patients had family history of cataract, medication, or trauma and they were otherwise healthy. In addition, the patients did not have any other abnormal features in the ocular status except cataract. The aLCs were prepared for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The most prominent abnormal features observed by SEM for all 5 studied presenile cataract patients were the changes of the aLECs structure with the dents, the selective concavity of some LECs, at their apical side centrally toward the nucleus. In addition, TEM showed the thinning of the lens epithelium with the segmentally concave cells and the compressed and elongated nuclei. Abnormal and distinguishable structural features were observed in the anterior lens epithelium aLECs in all 5 patients with presenile cataract. Disturbed structure of aLECs, regularly present in presenile cataract type is shown that might be associated with water accumulation in the presenile idiopathic cortical cataract lens.

DNA Damage in Lens Epithelial Cells and Peripheral Lymphocytes from Age-Related Cataract Patients

2014 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 124-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junfang Zhang ◽  
Jian Wu ◽  
Ling Yang ◽  
Rongrong Zhu ◽  
Mei Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Lens Epithelial Cells ◽  
Peripheral Lymphocytes ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Cataract Patients

Adenoviral gene transfer of BMP-7, Id2, or Id3 suppresses injury-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of lens epithelium in mice

2006 ◽  
Vol 290 (1) ◽  
pp. C282-C289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shizuya Saika ◽  
Kazuo Ikeda ◽  
Osamu Yamanaka ◽  
Kathleen C. Flanders ◽  
Yoshitaka Ohnishi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Transfer ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Lens Epithelium ◽  
Lens Epithelial Cells ◽  
Hypodermic Needle ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Adenoviral Gene Transfer

We have examined the effect of adenovirus-mediated expression of bone morphogenic protein-7 (BMP-7) and inhibitors of differentiation 2 and 3 (Id2 and Id3) on injury-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of lens epithelium in mice. Id2 and Id3 are known to be upregulated by BMP-7 and to antagonize Smad2/3 signaling. The Cre-LoxP system adenoviral gene transfer was used. Three microliters of adenoviral solution (2 × 107 PFU/μl) were injected into the right lens of adult male C57BL/6 mice ( n = 144) at the time of capsular injury induced using a hypodermic needle under both general and topical anesthesia. A mixture of Cre-adenovirus (Cre-Ad) and vector encoding mBMP-7, mId2, or mId3 was administered in a test group. Control lenses were treated with Cre-Ad alone. After healing intervals of 5 or 10 days, the animals were killed and then we performed histological processes or RNA extraction from the lens. RT-PCR, real-time RT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry showed expression of each introduced gene in the lens. Exogenous BMP-7 upregulated expression of Id2 and Id3 in injured lenses, and gene introduction of Id2 or Id3 also upregulated BMP-7 expression. Gene transfer of BMP-7, Id2, or Id3 delayed injury-induced EMT of the lens epithelial cells as evaluated by histology and expression patterns of α-smooth muscle actin and collagens in association with reduction of Smad2 COOH-terminal phosphorylation. Gene transfer of BMP-7, Id2, or Id3 delayed injury-induced EMT of lens epithelial cells and subsequent sealing of the capsular break with fibrous tissue in mice.

scholarly journals Lens epithelial cell apoptosis appears to be a common cellular basis for non-congenital cataract development in humans and animals.

1995 ◽  
Vol 130 (1) ◽  
pp. 169-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
W C Li ◽  
J R Kuszak ◽  
K Dunn ◽  
R R Wang ◽  
W Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cell ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Cell Apoptosis ◽  
Lens Epithelial Cell ◽  
Lens Epithelial Cells ◽  
Cataract Formation ◽  
Cellular Basis ◽  
Epithelial Cell Apoptosis ◽  
Cataract Development ◽  
Cataract Patients

Cataract is a major ocular disease that causes blindness in many developing countries of the world. It is well established that various factors such as oxidative stress, UV, and other toxic agents can induce both in vivo and in vitro cataract formation. However, a common cellular basis for this induction has not been previously recognized. The present study of lens epithelial cell viability suggests such a general mechanism. When lens epithelial cells from a group of 20 cataract patients 12 to 94 years old were analyzed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) labeling and DNA fragmentation assays, it was found that all of these patients had apoptotic epithelial cells ranging from 4.4 to 41.8%. By contrast, in eight normal human lenses of comparable age, very few apoptotic epithelial cells were observed. We suggest that cataract patients may have deficient defense systems against factors such as oxidative stress and UV at the onset of the disease. Such stress can trigger lens epithelial cell apoptosis that then may initiate cataract development. To test this hypothesis, it is also demonstrated here that hydrogen peroxide at concentrations previously found in some cataract patients induces both lens epithelial cell apoptosis and cortical opacity. Moreover, the temporal and spatial distribution of induced apoptotic lens epithelial cells precedes development of lens opacification. These results suggest that lens epithelial cell apoptosis may be a common cellular basis for initiation of noncongenital cataract formation.

Developmental analysis of the eye lens obsolescence (Elo) gene in the mouse: cell proliferation and Elo gene expression in the aggregation chimera

Development ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 113 (4) ◽  
pp. 1293-1304 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Yoshiki ◽  
M. Hanazono ◽  
S. Oda ◽  
N. Wakasugi ◽  
T. Sakakura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Cell Number ◽  
S Phase ◽  
Lens Epithelium ◽  
Posterior Region ◽  
Lens Epithelial Cells ◽  
Eye Lens ◽  
Lens Fiber ◽  
Fiber Cells

This study investigates the primary effect of the eye lens obsolescence (Elo) gene of the mouse. Morphological features of the Elo lens were defined as follows: (1) deficient elongation of lens fiber cells, (2) morphological abnormality of nuclei of lens fiber cells, (3) lack of eosinophilic granules in the central fiber cells and (4) rupture of lens capsule in the posterior region. We have immunohistologically examined, by means of an in vivo BrdU incorporation system, whether or not the Elo gene regulates cell proliferation during lens development. The lens fiber cells were morphologically abnormal in day 13 embryonic Elo lens. However, there were no significant differences in morphology or cell proliferation between normal and Elo lens epithelium until day 14 of gestation. After day 15, the total cell number in the Elo lens epithelium was significantly less than that in the normal, but the total numbers of S-phase cells in the two genotypes were not significantly different. The ratio of the total S-phase cell number to the total number of lens epithelial cells may be affected by the developmental stage, but not directly by the genotype. The genotype, however, may be having a direct influence at later ages because malformation of Elo lens fiber cells must cause reduction of the total number of lens epithelial cells in older embryos. Although, at 30 days old, Elo lens cells were externally extruded through the ruptured capsule into the vitreous cavity, BrdU-labelled lens epithelial cells were detectable. To investigate whether the Elo lens phenotype is determined by its own genotype or by its cellular environment, we produced aggregation chimeras between C3H-Elo/+(C/C) and BALB/c(c/c). Most lenses of BALB/c dominant chimeras were oval in shape without the ruptured lens capsule. However, they were opaque in the center and slightly smaller in size than normal. The lenses of C3H-Elo/+ dominant chimeras were morphologically similar to the Elo lens. Although normal nuclei were regularly arranged in the anterior region, Elo-type nuclei were located in the posterior region. Immunohistological staining by using anti-C3H strain-specific antibody demonstrated that the lens fiber cells with abnormal nuclei were derived only from C3H-Elo/+, not from BALB/c. These observations suggest that the primary effect of the Elo gene in the developing lens may be specific to the fiber cell differentiation rather than to the cell proliferation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

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