Identification of differential gene expression pattern in lens epithelial cells derived from cataractous and non-cataractous lenses of Shumiya cataract rat

Abstract The Shumiya cataract rat (SCR) is a model for hereditary cataract. Two-third of these rats develop lens opacity within 10-11-weeks. Onset of cataract is attributed to the synergetic effect of lanosterol synthase ( Lss ) and farnesyl-diphosphate farnesyltransferase 1 ( Fdft1 ) mutant alleles that lead to cholesterol deficiency in the lenses, which in turn adversely affects lens biology including the growth and differentiation of lens epithelial cells (LECs). Nevertheless, the molecular events and changes in gene expression associated with the onset of lens opacity in SCR is poorly understood. In the present study, a microarray-based approach was employed to analyze comparative gene expression changes in LECs isolated from the pre-cataractous and cataractous stages of lenses of 5-, 8- and 10-week-old SCRs. The changes in gene expression observed in microarray results in the LECs were further validated using real-time PCR and western blot analyses. Lens opacity was not observed in 5-week-old rats. However, histological analysis revealed mild dysplasia in the anterior suture and poorly differentiated fiber cells at the bow region. Expression of approximately 100 genes, including major intrinsic protein of lens fiber ( MIP and Aquaporin0), deoxyribonuclease II beta ( Dnase2b ), heat shock protein B1 ( Hspb1 ), and crystallin γ ( γCry ) B, C, and F were found to be significantly downregulated (0.07-0.5 fold) in rat LECs derived from cataract lenses compared to that in noncataractous lenses (control). Thus, our study aimed to identify the gene expression patterns during cataract formation in SCRs, which may be responsible for cataractogenesis in SCR. We proposed that mutation in lanosterol synthase was responsible for the downregulation of genes associated with lens fiber differentiation, which in turn leads to the formation of cataract in these rats. Our findings may have wider implications in understanding the effect of cholesterol deficiency and the role of cholesterol-lowering therapeutics on cataractogenesis.