This competing continuation grant is a request to support further analysis of human age-related nuclear cataracts, the most common form of human cataract that causes visual decline and worldwide blindness. Surgery is the only current treatment, and, while very successful, is a significant burden on healthcare systems and does not address the high incidence of nuclear cataract in aging populations. The long-range goals are to understand the cell biological changes that produce excess light scattering in lens nuclei so that alternative strategies can be devised to prevent the onset or slow the progression lens opacification. The emphasis is on the role of fiber cell junctions in cataract formation. Important progress in the previous grant period includes the identification of 1-4 5m diameter particles that appear to be multiple thin lipid bilayers surrounding nearly spherical globules of cytoplasmic protein. These particles were detected by confocal, multiphoton and bright field light microscopy and by electron microscopy. The particles were found to be more numerous in nuclear cataracts than age-matched transparent donor lenses. A method of quantitative electron absorption was developed to measure the local protein concentration and refractive index of particle interiors compared to adjacent cytoplasm. The ratio gives a measure of the scattering potential. Using Mie scattering theory, these globular particles are potentially very efficient scattering centers producing forward scatter that could affect image formation at the macula. Ultrastructural analysis also demonstrated numerous changes at fiber cell junctions including loss of membrane components, low-density regions (voids), enlargement of extracellular spaces and protein deposits within extracellular spaces. These changes are probably related to protein modification and redistribution during aging and cataract formation. Texturing of the cytoplasm was observed and is probably based on the formation of high molecular weight aggregates. Fourier analysis was used to relate the amount of texturing to the observed opacification of the nucleus. These features appear to be enhanced, including the number of multlamellar particles, in advanced nuclear cataracts from patients in India. Future studies include the characterization of the amount predicted scattering from various types of cellular damage over the entire range from transparent donor lenses to fully opaque nuclear cataracts, thus leading to the mechanism of cataract formation.

Public Health Relevance

Cataracts are very common throughout the world and millions of surgical extractions are performed each year to correct visual deficits and blindness caused by cataracts. Surgery at present is the only effective treatment. Our goal is to understand how cells in the lens change during aging and cataract formation so that alternative strategies for prevention and cure can be devised and evaluated.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY008148-20
Application #
8135318
Study Section
Anterior Eye Disease Study Section (AED)
Program Officer
Araj, Houmam H
Project Start
1988-09-01
Project End
2014-08-31
Budget Start
2011-09-01
Budget End
2014-08-31
Support Year
20
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$319,680
Indirect Cost
Name
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
608195277
City
Chapel Hill
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27599
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Costello, M Joseph; Brennan, Lisa A; Mohamed, Ashik et al. (2016) Identification and Ultrastructural Characterization of a Novel Nuclear Degradation Complex in Differentiating Lens Fiber Cells. PLoS One 11:e0160785
Mohamed, Ashik; Gilliland, Kurt O; Metlapally, Sangeetha et al. (2013) Simple fixation and storage protocol for preserving the internal structure of intact human donor lenses and extracted human nuclear cataract specimens. Mol Vis 19:2352-9
Costello, M Joseph; Mohamed, Ashik; Gilliland, Kurt O et al. (2013) Ultrastructural analysis of the human lens fiber cell remodeling zone and the initiation of cellular compaction. Exp Eye Res 116:411-8
Costello, M Joseph; Brennan, Lisa A; Basu, Subharsee et al. (2013) Autophagy and mitophagy participate in ocular lens organelle degradation. Exp Eye Res 116:141-50
Costello, M Joseph; Burette, Alain; Weber, Mariko et al. (2012) Electron tomography of fiber cell cytoplasm and dense cores of multilamellar bodies from human age-related nuclear cataracts. Exp Eye Res 101:72-81
Costello, M Joseph; Johnsen, Sonke; Metlapally, Sangeetha et al. (2010) Multilamellar spherical particles as potential sources of excessive light scattering in human age-related nuclear cataracts. Exp Eye Res 91:881-9
Costello, M J; Johnsen, Sonke; Metlapally, Sangeetha et al. (2008) Ultrastructural analysis of damage to nuclear fiber cell membranes in advanced age-related cataracts from India. Exp Eye Res 87:147-58
Metlapally, S; Costello, M J; Gilliland, K O et al. (2008) Analysis of nuclear fiber cell cytoplasmic texture in advanced cataractous lenses from Indian subjects using Debye-Bueche theory. Exp Eye Res 86:434-44
Costello, M Joseph (2006) Cryo-electron microscopy of biological samples. Ultrastruct Pathol 30:361-71