Diabetic Complications Research Center, Division of Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) Integrated Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, 483 Exporo, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-811, South Korea.
Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2010 Jun;248(6):811-8. doi: 10.1007/s00417-010-1313-1. Epub 2010 Feb 17.
It has been suggested that damage of lens epithelial cell (LEC) may play an important role in cataract formation. Nitric oxide is involved in cataract development. Here, we investigated the relationship between LEC damage and iNOS expression in the Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rat.
At 21 weeks of age, the eyes were enucleated and the lens opacity was then examined. Apoptosis were detected by TUNEL assay, and the expression of iNOS and NF-kappaB activation were studied by immunohistochemistry and southwestern histochemistry respectively.
In 21-week-old male ZDF rats, cataract was developed, TUNEL-positive LECs were markedly increased, and the expression levels of iNOS mRNA and protein were significantly upregulated. The expression pattern of iNOS was closely correlated with apoptotic change of LECs. In addition, advanced glycation end products (AGEs) were accumulated in cytoplasm of LECs. Activated NF-kappaB was mainly detected in nucleus of LECs.
The higher expressions of AGEs, NF-kappaB and iNOS in LECs of diabetic rats suggest that these factors are involved in apoptosis of LEC alterations related to diabetic cataract.
有观点认为晶状体上皮细胞（LEC）的损伤可能在白内障形成中起重要作用。一氧化氮参与白内障的发生。在此，我们研究了 Zucker 肥胖型糖尿病（ZDF）大鼠中 LEC 损伤与诱导型一氧化氮合酶（iNOS）表达之间的关系。
在 21 周龄时，眼球被摘除，然后检查晶状体混浊度。通过 TUNEL 检测法检测细胞凋亡，通过免疫组织化学和西南印迹法分别研究 iNOS 的表达和 NF-κB 的激活。
在 21 周龄雄性 ZDF 大鼠中，白内障形成，TUNEL 阳性 LEC 明显增加，iNOS mRNA 和蛋白的表达水平显著上调。iNOS 的表达模式与 LEC 凋亡的变化密切相关。此外，AGEs 在 LEC 的细胞质中积累。活化的 NF-κB 主要在 LEC 的核内检测到。
糖尿病大鼠 LEC 中 AGEs、NF-κB 和 iNOS 的高表达提示这些因子参与了与糖尿病性白内障相关的 LEC 改变的凋亡。
