The long-range goal of our research is to elucidate the mechanisms of hyperglycemic and senile cataractogenesis. Though oxidative and osmotic stress have been suggested as key changes associated with opacification, their cellular consequences are not clearly understood. Our central hypothesis is that during cortical cataract, oxidative and/or osmotic stress increases free calcium levels in lens fibers, activating proteases. These cause disintegrative globulization of the fiber cells, thus altering the light-transmitting properties of the lens. To test this hypothesis it is essential to examine the mechanisms regulating calcium in cortical fiber cells, and to understand how calcium-mediated proteolysis causes disintegration of these cells. To facilitate such cellular studies, we have recently developed procedures for isolating single fiber cells from the lens cortex and maintaining their viability over the duration of our planned experiments. Our research during the funded period has shown that isolated fiber cells are not electrogenic, uncoupling from the epithelium during isolation results in decrease of resting potential to practically zero (-4 mV). Intracellular calcium in isolated fiber cells is low, and that exposure to 1 to 2 mM calcium causes increase of [Ca2+]j to 1 to 2 uM and protease activity 6 to 8 fold which causes disintegrative globulization. The globules formed in vitro bear a striking resemblance to those observed at the light-scattering centers of cortical cataracts. We have partially purified a novel protease (named CMAC Protease) from lens cortex. This protease is different from Calpain and leucine aminopeptidase. Ca2+ Ringer's solution activates this enzyme 6 to 8 fold in rat lens fiber cells. Bestatin, an inhibitor of CMAC Protease significantly (> 3 hrs) delays fiber cell globulization in Ca2+ Ringer's solution. We will now purify CMAC Protease to homogeneity and investigate its kinetic and structural properties and examine its role in the breakdown of cytoskeletal and non-cytoskeletal proteins. The pathways regulating calcium-dependent and -independent proteolytic activity in cortical fibers will also be investigated. Furthermore, proteolytic changes to cytoskeletal and noncytoskeletal proteins that may contribute to the disintegration of fiber cells will be assessed. We will also investigate the processes by which cortical fibers maintain their calcium homeostasis, and the mechanism(s) that elevate free calcium during globulization of isolated fibers. Besides providing insight into the fundamental physiology of the lens cortex, our results will elucidate the cellular mechanisms by which cataractogenic conditions perturb the light-transmitting properties of the lens, and may lead to the development of more effective anticataractogenic interventions.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01EY001677-26
Application #
6383499
Study Section
Visual Sciences A Study Section (VISA)
Program Officer
Liberman, Ellen S
Project Start
1978-06-01
Project End
2006-11-30
Budget Start
2001-12-01
Budget End
2002-11-30
Support Year
26
Fiscal Year
2002
Total Cost
$372,500
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Medical Br Galveston
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
041367053
City
Galveston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77555
Pladzyk, Agnieszka; Reddy, Aramati B M; Yadav, Umesh C S et al. (2006) Inhibition of aldose reductase prevents lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response in human lens epithelial cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 47:5395-403
Singh, Ranvir; White, Mark A; Ramana, Kota V et al. (2006) Structure of a glutathione conjugate bound to the active site of aldose reductase. Proteins 64:101-10
Ramana, Kota V; Willis, Monte S; White, Michael D et al. (2006) Endotoxin-induced cardiomyopathy and systemic inflammation in mice is prevented by aldose reductase inhibition. Circulation 114:1838-46
Ramana, Kota V; Bhatnagar, Aruni; Srivastava, Sanjay et al. (2006) Mitogenic responses of vascular smooth muscle cells to lipid peroxidation-derived aldehyde 4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal (HNE): role of aldose reductase-catalyzed reduction of the HNE-glutathione conjugates in regulating cell growth. J Biol Chem 281:17652-60
Pladzyk, Agnieszka; Ramana, Kota V; Ansari, Naseem H et al. (2006) Aldose reductase prevents aldehyde toxicity in cultured human lens epithelial cells. Exp Eye Res 83:408-16
Srivastava, Satish K; Ramana, Kota V; Bhatnagar, Aruni (2005) Role of aldose reductase and oxidative damage in diabetes and the consequent potential for therapeutic options. Endocr Rev 26:380-92
Ramana, Kota V; Friedrich, Brian; Tammali, Ravinder et al. (2005) Requirement of aldose reductase for the hyperglycemic activation of protein kinase C and formation of diacylglycerol in vascular smooth muscle cells. Diabetes 54:818-29
Srivastava, Seema; Tammali, Ravinder; Chandra, Deepak et al. (2005) Regulation of lens aldose reductase activity by nitric oxide. Exp Eye Res 81:664-72
Ramana, Kota V; Bhatnagar, Aruni; Srivastava, Satish K (2004) Aldose reductase regulates TNF-alpha-induced cell signaling and apoptosis in vascular endothelial cells. FEBS Lett 570:189-94
Ramana, Kota V; Bhatnagar, Aruni; Srivastava, Satish K (2004) Inhibition of aldose reductase attenuates TNF-alpha-induced expression of adhesion molecules in endothelial cells. FASEB J 18:1209-18

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