Our broad goal is to determine the mechanism(s) of cataracts caused by inhibitors of lens cholesterol biosynthesis. These inhibitors are the most prescribed drugs in the U.S. New classes of drugs in development may be highly cataractogenic.
The specific aims of the project are based on two new findings: simvastatin rapidly induces cataracts strain specifically in rats and apparently all members of the new class of drugs, the oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC) inhibitors, are cataractogenic. Thus, our specific aims are to determine mechanisms of cataracts induced by simvastatin and the OSC inhibitors and the basis of the selective genetic susceptibility to the simvastatin cataract. The susceptible rats are Chbb:THOM (CT), a European Wistar. We hypothesize that lenses of CT rats possess lower levels of HMG CoA reductase protein and mRNA which make them more sensitive to inhibition by simvastatin. Western blotting and quantitative RT-PCR will be used to measure drug induced changes in lens protein and mRNA, respectively. We hypothesize that the simvastatin rat cataract is mainly due to restricting isoprenes needed for activation of small GTP binding proteins (master regulators of cell function). This idea will be tested by measuring drug induced changes in specific GTP binding proteins, particularly the Rho class, by 2D immunoblots. The effects of simvastatin treatment on lens epithelial cell migration and differentiation will be assessed in vivo by following the distribution of pulse-labeled epithelial cells between capsule and lens body with time after injecting 3H-thymidine. Finally, we hypothesize that the cataracts are due to either accumulation of toxic by-products of sterol synthesis or to direct damage of membranes. Gas-chromatography will be used to measure lens oxysqualenes and oxysterols. Biophysical techniques (infrared spectroscopy, fluorescence anisotropy and X-ray diffraction) will be used to determine if the OSC inhibitors (cationic-tertiary amines) can intercalate into lens membranes and directly perturb them. Information on the mechanism of these cataracts may influence decisions to introduce new hypocholesterolemic drugs and permit discrimination by society between the available drugs for lowest ocular toxicity. These are obvious benefits to public health considering the intended life-long use of the drugs.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01EY002568-24
Application #
6324282
Study Section
Visual Sciences A Study Section (VISA)
Program Officer
Liberman, Ellen S
Project Start
1978-08-01
Project End
2006-08-31
Budget Start
2001-09-01
Budget End
2002-08-31
Support Year
24
Fiscal Year
2001
Total Cost
$226,250
Indirect Cost
Name
A.T. Still University of Health Sciences
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Osteopathy
DUNS #
City
Kirksville
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
63501
Cenedella, Richard J (2009) Cholesterol synthesis inhibitor U18666A and the role of sterol metabolism and trafficking in numerous pathophysiological processes. Lipids 44:477-87
Cenedella, Richard J; Sexton, Patricia S; Brako, Lawrence et al. (2007) Status of caveolin-1 in various membrane domains of the bovine lens. Exp Eye Res 85:473-81
Cenedella, Richard J; Neely, Amanda R; Sexton, Patricia (2006) Multiple forms of 22 kDa caveolin-1 alpha present in bovine lens cells could reflect variable palmitoylation. Exp Eye Res 82:229-35
Cenedella, Richard J; Sexton, Patricia S; Krishnan, Kathiresan et al. (2005) Comparison of effects of U18666A and enantiomeric U18666A on sterol synthesis and induction of apoptosis. Lipids 40:635-40
Cenedella, Richard J; Neely, Amanda R; Sexton, Patricia (2005) Concentration and distribution of ubiquinone (coenzyme Q), the endogenous lipid antioxidant, in the rat lens: effect of treatment with simvastatin. Mol Vis 11:594-602
Cenedella, Richard J; Jacob, Robert; Borchman, Douglas et al. (2004) Direct perturbation of lens membrane structure may contribute to cataracts caused by U18666A, an oxidosqualene cyclase inhibitor. J Lipid Res 45:1232-41
Sexton, Patricia S; Neely, Amanda R; Cenedella, Richard J (2004) Distribution of caveolin-1 in bovine lens and redistribution in cultured bovine lens epithelial cells upon confluence. Exp Eye Res 78:75-82
Cenedella, Richard J; Kuszak, Jerome R; Al-Ghoul, Kristin J et al. (2003) Discordant expression of the sterol pathway in lens underlies simvastatin-induced cataracts in Chbb: Thom rats. J Lipid Res 44:198-211
Jacob, R F; Cenedella, R J; Mason, R P (2001) Evidence for distinct cholesterol domains in fiber cell membranes from cataractous human lenses. J Biol Chem 276:13573-8
Cenedella, R J (2001) Specific labeling of lens aldehyde dehydrogenase class 1 from (3)H-cholesterol or its derivatives. Ophthalmic Res 33:210-6

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