DNA DAMAGE IN LENS EPITHELIAL CELLS OF SENILE CATARACT PATIENTS OF DIFFERENT PRAKRITI ACCORDING TO AYURVEDA LITERATURE

Objectives: The Ayurvedic concept of the constitution is useful in predicting an individual’s susceptibility to age-related diseases like Cataracts (Kaphaja Linganasha). The objectives of the study were to assess DNA damage directly in human lens epithelial cells (HLEC) of senile cataracts of Vata Predominant, Pitta Predominant, and Kapha Predominant Prakriti individuals. Methods: After obtaining Institutional Ethics Committee permission, HLEC were taken from 20 Vatta Predominant,20 Pitta Predominant and 20 Kapha Predominant Prakriti individuals of cataract after cataract surgery and from 4 controls in which quantitative assessment of DNA damage were measured using CometScore™ software. The formation of “comets” in the DNA of lens epithelial cells can be visualized through the method of single gel electrophoresis and indicates DNA strand breaks, as the damaged DNA migrates at a different rate than non-damaged DNA during electrophoresis. Results: No such prominent comets were indicating any DNA damage in the HLEC of the four control subjects, but comets were found in cataractous HLEC. The maximal damage was found in pitta-predominant Prakriti Individuals. In senile cataract patients, in HLECs DNA was randomly damaged and this type of damage was possible by reactive oxygen species. The DNA damage in HLEC was found maximally in pitta Predominant Prakriti individuals of senile type of cataract patients. Statistical significance was observed between senile cataracts in pitta predominant Prakriti versus senile cataracts in Vata predominant Prakriti individuals and between senile cataracts in Vata predominant Prakriti versus senile cataracts in Kapha Prakriti individual. No statistically significant results were obtained for senile cataracts in pitta Prakriti versus senile cataracts in Kapha Prakriti individuals. Conclusion: The pathogenesis of senile cataracts is multifactorial and includes continuous molecular stress brought by photo-oxidative stress, UV irradiation, and oxidative reactions.