Regulation of alpha-crystallin gene expression by glucocorticoids in lens epithelial cells. |
Jung Mook Lyu, Eunjoo H Lee, Do Hyung Lee, Sung Kun Jung, Jae Ho Kim, Choun Ki Joo |
1Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, The Catholic university of Korea. 2Department of Ophthalmology , Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University Medical College. |
수정체 상피 세포주에서 glucocorticoid 에 의한 alpha - crystallin 유전자발현조절에 관한 연구 |
류정묵(Jung Mook Lyu),황은주(Eun Joo H.),이도형(Do Hyung Lee),주천기(Choun Ki Joo),김재호(Jae Ho Kim),정성근(Sung Kun Jung) |
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Abstract |
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine the molecular basis for steroid-induced cataract and the specific aim was to investigate the potential effects of glucocorticoids on modulation of alpha-crystallin gene expression in lens epithelial cells. METHOD: Bovine lens epithelial explants, B-3 human lens epithelial cells, and alphaTN4 mouse lens epithelial cells were incubated in the absence or presence of dexamethasone. At the indicated time point, total cellular RNA was isolated and subjected to RT-PCR and Northern blot analysis to assess mRNA expression of alphaA- and alphaB-crystallin. RESULTS: The mRNA expression of alphaA-crystallin was drastically downregulated by treatment with dexamethasone in bovine, human, and mouse lens epithelial cells. The mRNA level of alphaA-crystallin was also decreased in response to hydrocortisone but not to estrogen. The stability of the alphaA-crystallin mRNA was decreased after dexamethasone treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the alteration of alphaA-crystallin gene expression by glucocorticoids may result in abnomal structure and differentiation of lens epithelial cells on steroid-induced cataract formation. |
Key Words:
Steroid;Glucocorticoid;Alpha-crystallin;Cataract;Differentiation |
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