Reduced Glutathione Level Promotes Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Lens Epithelial Cells via a Wnt/β-Catenin-Mediated Pathway: Relevance for Cataract Therapy.

ABSTRACT: The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of posterior capsular opacification because of remnant lens epithelial cell proliferation, migration, and transformation after cataract surgery. The latter, we hypothesize, may result in posterior capsule wrinkling and opacification because of a profound change in the lens growth environment via a 1000-fold reduction of extracellular glutathione (GSH) levels. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the EMT process in cell culture and GSH biosynthesis deficiency mouse models. Our data indicate a dramatic increase of pro-EMT markers, such as type I collagen, α-smooth muscle actin, vimentin, and fibronectin, under conditions of lens GSH depletion. Further study suggests that decreased GSH triggers th

SUBMITTER: Wei Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5809338 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature