Effects of dietary deficiency of selective amino acids on the function of the cornea and lens in rats

Summary.  Effects of dietary deficiencies of tryptophan and methionin on the transparency of cornea and lens were investigated in young rats (Brown-Norway, BN; Sprague-Dawley, SD) over 3 months. Transparency of the cornea and lens were evaluated in weekly intervals using a photo-slitlamp microscope. After sacrifice and lens fresh weight determination the lenses were prepared for histopathology. Methionin deficiency had no effect on the parameters investigated. Tryptophan deficiency caused severe loss of body weight in both strains, with additional loss of hair in SD rats. These developed corneal neovascularisations and cataracts. BN rats showed an enhanced zone of discontinuity in the lens. Diet intermission arrested the pathological processes in the eye which restarted when feeding the diet again. This observation is supported by lens fresh weight data. DNA staining evidenced that tryptophan deficiency arrested lens fiber maturation in both strains but stimulated corneal neovascularisation only in SD rats. Received June 29, 2001 Accepted August 6, 2001 Published online July 31, 2002     

花背蟾蜍蝌蚪表皮移植片在角膜诱导中的扫描电镜研究

扫描电镜研究表明,花背蟾蜍蝌蚪在角膜诱导过程中表皮移植片外表面的主要变化是:当移植片细胞中色素消失时,细胞的分泌活动变旺盛,表现在细胞外分泌物增多,这可能与排色素有关。同时移植片细胞表面的微突起和边界嵴日趋细小,移植片透明时它更类似正常角膜。在此期间移植片内表面的主要变化是:细胞外基质不断增加,尤其是胶原纤维的增多和逐渐排列整齐,以及可能由于GAG的合成形成的颗粒状结构的出现和消失,这些都与移植片向角膜上皮分化相关联。由于眼球诱导作用引起的上述变化,都可促进表皮移植片转变为透明的角膜。     

发生类坏死蝌蚪皮肤在诱导并分化为角膜过程中的超微结构

本研究以花背蟾蜍后肢芽期的蝌蚪为材料,以0.001 mol/L氨水(氨水组)和0.01mol/L醋酸(醋酸组)处理皮肤使之发生类坏死,研究发生类坏死的皮肤移植片,在被诱导并分化为角膜过程中的超微结构变化。结果发现:各组细胞表面粘液经历了由少到多,再到少的过程;在皮肤片细胞去分化中,黑色素颗粒逐步消失,其中以氨水组最快,醋酸组次之;细胞间隙在氨水组及醋酸组中均较对照组为窄;实验组胶原纤维趋于均匀的速度较对照组为快。作者认为:类坏死处理导致去分化的加速,粘液的增多,细胞间隙的变窄,以及促进胶原纤维趋于均匀等,与皮肤片透明的加速之间有一定的关系。本文对类坏死与加速皮肤片被诱导和分化为角膜进程间的可能关系进行了讨论。     

Ion channel involvement in the temperature-sensitive response of the rabbit corneal endothelial cell resting membrane potential

Previous studies have shown that the resting potential (E _m) of the corneal endothelium hyperpolarizes following an increase in temperature above 24°C. Whole-cell studies using the perforated-patch technique were used to compare currents and E _mvalues from isolated corneal endothelial cells at 24 and 32°C. These studies revealed a small, outwardly rectifying, slowly activating, weakly voltage-dependent current with a reversal potential showing K⁺ selectivity (E _rev = –80 mV). This current had features similar to the whole-cell current seen following addition of HCO₃ ^– to these cells. E _mmeasurements found an average 24 mV hyperpolarization following temperature elevation in NaCl Ringer. Single channel studies found the only change in channel activity following an elevation in temperature to be an increase in the open probability (P _o) of a K⁺ channel previously reported in this cell type to be activated by external anions. P _o(–30 mV) at 24 and 32°C equaled 0.003 and 0.06, respectively. Increases in P _owere found at all voltages examined. This increased P _ocan account for the magnitude of the hyperpolarization seen in these cells following temperature elevation. Addition of HCO₃ ^– along with elevated temperature produced a synergistic effect on the increase in P _oalong with an increased hyperpolarization of the cell, pointing to separate mechanisms of activation from these two stimuli.The authors would like to thank Ms. Helen Hendrickson for her technical support and Drs. Gianrico Farrugia and Adam Rich for their helpful comments. This work was supported by NIH grants EY09673, EY03282, EY06005, and an unrestricted award from Research to Prevent Blindness.     

lncRNA MIAT suppression alleviates corneal angiogenesis through regulating miR-1246/ACE

Corneal neovascularization (CRNV) is a prevalence eye disorder that affects the transparency and refraction properties of eyes. To explore the correlation between the level of Angiotensin II (Ang II) and corneal angiogenesis, the rat model of CRNV was established using alkali-burn, while the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were stimulated using VEGF to induce the CRNV cells in vitro. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull-down were performed to validate the relationship between MIAT and miR-1246. The expression of MIAT and Ang II was increased, while miR-1246 was decreased in CRNV rat model. VEGF stimulation significantly promoted cell proliferation and migration of HUVECs, knockdown of MIAT dramatically reversed the effects of VEGF, while cells co-transfected with miR-1246 inhibitor obviously abolished the effect of VEGF+si-MIAT, however, enalaprilat abolished the effects of VEGF+si-MIAT+miR-1246 inhibitor. MIAT directly regulated the expression of miR-1246. In conclusion, VEGF stimulation promoted cell proliferation and migration of HUVECs mainly through regulating MIAT/miR-1246/ACE.     

The signaling pathway involved in the proliferation of corneal endothelial cells

Abstract

Corneal transparency is maintained by the corneal endothelium through its barrier and ionic pump function. However, this function could be compromised with age and variety of diseases and trauma, leading to cornea dycompensation, corneal edema, bullous keratopathy and even loss of visual acuity. So far, a lot of measures have been proposed to solve the problem through promoting the corneal endothelial cells (CECs) proliferation both in vivo and in vitro. However, the exact molecular mechanism regarding the proliferation potential as well as associated phenotype maintenance of CECs has not been well clarified. Accordingly, we will review the studies outlined the signal transduction pathways that were involved in the process of CECs proliferation, which is an important and relatively seldom touched research direction for future new therapies of corneal endothelium dysfunction. By operating the crucial signaling molecular in these pathways, we anticipate to activate or block the signaling pathways and thus help engineering CEC monolayer for clinical transplantation.     

The importance of location and orientation of male specific lethal complex binding sites of differing affinities on reporter gene dosage compensation in Drosophila

A novel nucleic acid analogue (2Cl-C.OXT-A) significantly stimulated tube formation of human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVEC). Its maximum potency at 100 μM was stronger than that of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a positive control. At this concentration, 2Cl-C.OXT-A moderately stimulated proliferation as well as migration of HUVEC. To gain mechanistic insights how 2Cl-C.OXT-A promotes angiogenic responses in HUVEC, we performed immunoblot analyses using phospho-specific antibodies as probes. 2Cl-C.OXT-A induced robust phosphorylation/activation of MAP kinase ERK1/2 and an upstream MAP kinase kinase MEK. Conversely, a MEK inhibitor PD98059 abolished ERK1/2 activation and tube formation both enhanced by 2Cl-C.OXT-A. In contrast, MAP kinase responses elicited by 2Cl-C.OXT-A were not inhibited by SU5416, a specific inhibitor of VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase. Collectively these results suggest that 2Cl-C.OXT-A-induces angiogenic responses in HUVEC mediated by a MAP kinase cascade comprising MEK and ERK1/2, but independently of VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase. In vivo assay using chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) and rabbit cornea also suggested the angiogenic potency of 2Cl-C.OXT-A.     

Lack of Threshold for Anisotonic Cell Volume Regulation

Most cells possess mechanisms that are able to detect cellular volume shifts and to signal the initiation of appropriate volume regulatory responses. However, the identity and characteristics of the detecting mechanism remain obscure. In this study, we explored the influence of hypertonic and hypotonic challenges of varying magnitude on the characteristics of the ensuing regulatory volume increase (RVI) and regulatory volume decrease (RVD) of cultured bovine corneal endothelial cells (CBCECs). The main question we asked was whether a threshold of stimulation existed that would unleash a regulatory response. CBCECs (passage 1–3) were seeded on rectangular glass coverslips and grown for 1–2 days. We used a procedure based on detection of light scattering to monitor the transient volume changes of such plated cells when subjected to osmotic challenge. The osmometric responses were asymmetric: cells shrank faster than they swelled (by a factor of 3). Complete volume regulatory responses took 10–12 min. Bumetanide (50 μM) resulted in incomplete (50%) RVI. We found no threshold as the cells examined responded to hypertonic and hypotonic stimuli as low as 1%. There was some gradation as stimuli of <4% resulted in incomplete volume regulation. The degree of activation of the volume responses grew as an exponential buildup with the strength of the anisotonic challenge. We discuss how our observations are consistent with volume sensing mechanisms based on both ionic strength and the cytoskeleton.     

兔BMSCs复合纤维蛋白胶在体外分化为角膜基质细胞的研究

目的：探讨体外诱导兔骨髓间充质干细胞（BMSCs）分化为角膜基质细胞的可行性,并观察纤维蛋白胶（FG）作为细胞支架材料的效果。方法：密度梯度法获得BMSCs,体外诱导实验将细胞分为三组：对照组用普通培养皿、BMSCs培养条件并不加角膜基质细胞共培养的条件下培养;非FG共培养组使用普通培养皿并与角膜基质细胞共培养诱导BMSCs分化;FG共培养组使用铺有FG的培养皿并与角膜基质细胞共培养诱导BMSCs分化。培养1w及2w后用WestenBlot法检测三组细胞Keratocan的表达,在相差显微镜下进行形态学观察。结果：原代培养的BMSCs表现出成体干细胞潜能,CD29染色阳性,符合骨髓基质干细胞的特征。诱导培养2周后对照组BMSCs融合成单层、呈条索状生长;非FG共培养组部分细胞体积变小、多突起,局部呈梭形生长;FG共培养组细胞生长状态良好,部分细胞呈梭形或纺锤形,与FG生物相容性好。Westen检测结果：BMSCs细胞在纤维蛋白胶或普通培养皿上特定培养条件下均能诱导表达角膜基质细胞的特异性蛋白Keratocan。结论：骨髓间充质干细胞在条件培养基下可分化为角膜基质细胞,有望作为治疗角膜疾病及角膜组织工程的备选材料,纤维蛋白胶组织相容性好,可为组织工程提供移植细胞片。