Electron Microscopic Study of Water-Insoluble Fractions in Normal and Cataractous Human Lens Fibers

Abstract

Water-insoluble fractions of fiber cells from human transparent normal and opacified single lenses were compared ultrastructurally and by gel electrophoresis. Intermediate-sized filaments which had been clearly shown in aged transparent normal cortices, virtually vanished in the opacified nuclei in contrast to microfilaments.

Hyperbaric Oxygen in vivo Accelerates the Loss of Cytoskeletal Proteins and MIP26 in Guinea Pig Lens Nucleus

“…With regard to actin, other investigators have suggested that this cytoskeletal protein may not be required for any specific function in the compacted nuclear fiber cells . Although an accelerated loss of vimentin has been reported to occur in the nucleus of human nuclear cataracts (Ozaki, Jap and Bloemendal, 1985), a finding similar to the results of this study with HBO, vimentin-knockout mice, surprisingly, have been found to possess a normal lens cortex and nucleus (Colucci-Guyon et al, 1994). Regarding lens cortical changes, HBO-treatment produced no increased scatter or loss of cytoskeletal proteins in that region.…”

“…Typically, the content of cytoskeletal proteins in the lens decreases with age, particularly in the nucleus. Loss of these proteins, including vimentin and α-actinin, has been observed to accelerate in the human lens during the development of senile cataract (Ozaki, Jap and Bloemendal, 1985).…”

Lens membrane fraction associated intermediate filaments of different aged rats

“…35 Stable peptides of about 66 kDa 46 or 53 kDa 35 and smaller (19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33) 35,46 are produced in an age dependent fashion. Peptides of these sizes were recognized by the polyclonal antibody to filensin used here, and likely represent these proteolytic products.…”

“…22 Furthermore, decreased content of cytoskeletal proteins has been reported for human cataracts. 23,24 These studies underscore the importance of the integrity of the lens cytoskeletal structures. However, little information is available about the interaction of these cytoskeletal elements with the lens plasma membrane, or how these interactions change during maturation and aging.…”

Alterations in the lenticular protein profile in experimental selenite-induced cataractogenesis and prevention by ellagic acid

“…Typically, the concentration of cytoskeletal proteins in the lens decreases with age, particularly in the nucleus. Loss of these proteins, including vimentin and α-actinin, is accelerated in the human lens during the development of senile cataract [14,21]. Understanding the precise role of these proteins is critical for characterizing the putative malfunctions in molecular cascades that lead to cataracts, and could potentially provide useful information for the development of therapies that retard or prevent cataractogenesis.…”