背景年龄相关性白内障是常见的致盲眼病,其病因及发病机制尚未完全明确,了解其病因及发病机制对白内障的预防具有重要意义。近年来的研究证实,晶状体中的2个小分子蛋白AQP0和AQP1与白内障的发病关系密切。目的研究水通道蛋白AQP0和AQP1在正常晶状体和年龄相关性白内障晶状体的表达和分布差异,探讨其在年龄相关性白内障发病机制中的作用。方法采用前瞻性研究设计,纳入2011年3—9月在福建医科大学附属第一医院眼科就诊的拟行白内障小切口非超声乳化囊外摘出术年龄相关性白内障患者,术中收集的晶状体前囊膜和晶状体核组织17例,同时6例透明晶状体标本取自同期行角膜移植术的供体眼球,制备晶状体前囊膜和晶状体核组织切片。采用免疫组织化学染色法检测年龄相关性白内障标本中和正常晶状体标本中AQP0和AQP1的表达和分布;采用Westernblot法测定和分析晶状体中AQP0、AQP1蛋白的相对表达量,对2种标本中的检测结果进行比较。结果免疫组织化学检测结果显示,AQP1主要表达于LECs中,AQP0主要表达于晶状体皮质区及核区的纤维细胞中,年龄相关性白内障组AQP1和AQP0的表达量(平均吸光度,A值)分别为0.223±0.008和0.118±0.015,较正常组的0.246±0.007和0.149±0.007均明显减少,差异均有统计学意义(t=-4.508、-3.291,均P〈0.01)。Westernblot法检测显示,年龄相关性白内障组标本中AQP1和AQP0蛋白表达条带均较正常组减弱,年龄相关性白内障组标本中AQP1和AQP0蛋白的相对表达量(A值)分别为0.663±0.012和0.599±0.016,明显低于正常组的0.844±O.041和0.955±O.064,差异均有统计学意义(t=-7.492,P〈0.05;t=-9.570,P〈0.01)。结论AQP1及AQP0在正常晶状体的分布部位不同。年龄相关性白内障晶状体中AQP1及AQP0表达均下调,提?
Background Age-related cataract is a common cause of blindness. However, its cause and pathogenic mechanism have not been fully understood. Recent studies revealed that aquaporin 1 ( AQP1 ) and AQP0 are closely related to the pathogenesis of cataract. Objective This study was to investigate the differential distribution and expression of AQP0 and AQP1 in lenses with age-related cataract and explore its effect on pathogenesis of age-related cataract. Methods Seventeen anterior capsular membrane samples and nucleus samples of lenses were collected from age-related cataract patients during the small incision nonphacoemulsification cataract extraction,and 6 normal lens samples were obtained from health donors in the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University. The expression and distribution of AQP1 and AQP0 in the lenses were detected by immunohistoehemistry,and the relative expression levels of AQP1 and AQP0 proteins in the lenses were assayed by using Western blot assay. This study protocol was approved by Ethic Committee of this hospital, and written informed consent was obtained from each patient. Results Immunohistochemistry showed that in the normal lenses,AQP1 expressed mainly in LECs;while AQP0 primarily expressed in fiber cells of the lens cortex and nucleus. The relative expression levels of AQP1 and AQP0 in the lenses with age-related cataract (absorbance) were 0. 223±0. 008 and 0. 118±0. 015 ,which were significantly lower than 0. 246±0. 007 and 0. 149±0. 007 in the normal lenses (t=-4. 508,-3. 291, both at P〈0. 01 ). Western blot revealed that the relative expression levels of AQP1 and AQP0 in the lenses with age-related cataract (absorbance) were 0.663 ± 0. 012 and 0. 599 ± 0. 015, which were significantly reduced in comparison with 0. 844±0.041 and 0. 955 ±0. 064 in the normal lenses ( t = -7. 492, P〈0.05 ;t = -9. 570, P〈0.01 ). Conclusions AQP1 and AQP0 distribute in different sites of lenses. The expressions of AQP1 and AQP0 are obviously down-regulated i