Age-related changes in glutathione synthesis in the eye lens

Physiological Mechanisms Regulating Lens Transport

The transparency and refractive properties of the lens are maintained by the cellular physiology provided by an internal microcirculation system that utilizes spatial differences in ion channels, transporters and gap junctions to establish standing electrochemical and hydrostatic pressure gradients that drive the transport of ions, water and nutrients through this avascular tissue. Aging has negative effects on lens transport, degrading ion and water homeostasis, and producing changes in lens water content. This alters the properties of the lens, causing changes in optical quality and accommodative amplitude that initially result in presbyopia in middle age and ultimately manifest as cataract in the elderly. Recent advances have highlighted that the lens hydrostatic pressure gradient responds to tension transmitted to the lens through the Zonules of Zinn through a mechanism utilizing mechanosensitive channels, multiple sodium transporters respond to changes in hydrostatic pressure to restore equilibrium, and that connexin hemichannels and diverse intracellular signaling cascades play a critical role in these responses. The mechanistic insight gained from these studies has advanced our understanding of lens transport and how it responds and adapts to different inputs both from within the lens, and from surrounding ocular structures.

Mitochondria induce oxidative stress, generation of reactive oxygen species and redox state unbalance of the eye lens leading to human cataract formation: disruption of redox lens organization by phospholipid hydroperoxides as a common basis for cataract disease

The aging eye appears to be at considerable risk from oxidative stress. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) is one of the mechanisms of cataractogenesis, initiated by enhanced promotion of oxygen free radicals in the eye fluids and tissues and impaired enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defenses of the crystalline lens. The present study proposes that mitochondria are one of the major sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in mammalian and human lens epithelial cells and that therapies that protect mitochondria in lens epithelial cells from damage and reduce damaging ROS generation may potentially ameliorate the effects of free radical-induced oxidation that occur in aging ocular tissues and in human cataract diseases. It has been found that rather than complete removal of oxidants by the high levels of protective enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, lipid peroxidases in transparent lenses, the lens conversely, possess a balance between peroxidants and antioxidants in a way that normal lens tends to generate oxidants diffusing from lenticular tissues, shifting the redox status of the lens to become more oxidizing during both morphogenesis and aging. Release of the oxidants (O(2)(-)·, H(2)O(2) , OH·, and lipid hydroperoxides) by the intact lenses in the absence of respiratory inhibitors indicates that these metabolites are normal physiological products inversely related to the lens life-span potential (maturity of cataract) generated through the metal-ion catalyzed redox-coupled pro-oxidant activation of the lens reductants (ascorbic acid, glutathione). The membrane-bound phospholipid (PL) hydroperoxides escape detoxification by the lens enzymatic reduction. The lens cells containing these species would be vulnerable to peroxidative attack which trigger the PL hydroperoxide-dependent chain propagation of LPO and other damages in membrane (lipid and protein alterations). The increased concentrations of primary LPO products (diene conjugates, lipid hydroperoxides) and end fluorescent LPO products were detected in the lipid moiety of the aqueous humor samples obtained from patients with cataract as compared to normal donors. Since LPO is clinically important in many of the pathological effects and aging, new therapeutic modalities, such as patented N-acetylcarnosine prodrug lubricant eye drops, should treat the incessant infliction of damage to the lens cells and biomolecules by reactive lipid peroxides and oxygen species and "refashion" the affected lens membranes in the lack of important metabolic detoxification of PL peroxides. Combined in ophthalmic formulations with N-acetylcarnosine, mitochondria-targeted antioxidants are promising to become investigated as a potential tool for treating a number of ROS-related ocular diseases, including human cataracts.

Cystathionine gamma-Lyase-deficient mice require dietary cysteine to protect against acute lethal myopathy and oxidative injury

Cysteine is considered a nonessential amino acid in mammals as it is synthesized from methionine via trans-sulfuration. However, premature infants or patients with hepatic failure may require dietary cysteine due to a lack of cystathionine gamma-lyase (CTH), a key trans-sulfuration enzyme. Here, we generated CTH-deficient (Cth(-/-)) mice as an animal model of cystathioninemia/cystathioninuria. Cth(-/-) mice developed normally in general but displayed hypercystathioninemia/hyperhomocysteinemia though not hypermethioninemia. When fed a low cyst(e)ine diet, Cth(-/-) mice showed acute skeletal muscle atrophy (myopathy) accompanied by enhanced gene expression of asparagine synthetase and reduced contents of glutathione in livers and skeletal muscles, and intracellular accumulation of LC3 and p62 in skeletal myofibers; they finally died of severe paralysis of the extremities. Cth(-/-) hepatocytes required cystine in a culture medium and showed greater sensitivity to oxidative stress. Cth(-/-) mice exhibited systemic vulnerability to oxidative injury, which became more prominent when they were fed the low cyst(e)ine diet. These results reveal novel roles of trans-sulfuration previously unrecognized in mice lacking another trans-sulfuration enzyme cystathionine beta-synthase (Cbs(-/-)). Because Cbs(-/-) mice display hyperhomocysteinemia and hypermethioninemia, our results raise questions against the homocysteine-based etiology of CBS deficiency and the current newborn screening for homocysteinemia using Guthrie's method, which detects hypermethioninemia.

A rabbit model to study biochemical damage to the lens after vitrectomy: effects of N-acetylcysteine

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the biochemical effects of vitrectomy can be studied in rabbits and to assess the possible protective effects of N-acetylcysteine on the lens following vitrectomy. Twenty-four New Zealand rabbits (2.3-2.4 kg) were divided into three groups of eight each. Left eyes underwent vitrectomy surgery. Unoperated right eyes served as controls. Equal numbers of treated eyes were not injected, injected with 20 mM N-acetylcysteine, or 100 mM N-acetylcysteine immediately after vitrectomy. Lens transparency was monitored by slit-lamp biomicroscopy pre- and post-vitrectomy. A series of biochemical measurements were performed on lenses five months after vitrectomy. No significant differences in lens transparency or structure were observed in the three groups of lenses. However, vitrectomy was associated with significantly decreased activity of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and catalase. Compared with the group not treated with N-acetylcysteine, catalase activity was increased significantly in the group treated with 20 mM N-acetylcysteine. The level of glutathione and the activities of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and glutathione reductase were also higher in the two N-acetylcysteine-treated groups than in the untreated group, although these differences did not reach statistical significance. For all measured parameters, the effect of 20 mM N-acetylcysteine appeared to be better than 100 mM N-acetylcysteine, although these differences were not statistically significant. From these results, we gather that vitrectomy is associated with long-term decreases in enzyme activity in the lens. Injection of N-acetylcysteine into the vitreous cavity protects against some of these changes. Antioxidants like N-acetylcysteine may slow or prevent post-vitrectomy cataracts.

Effects of N-acetylcysteine and glutathione ethyl ester drops on streptozotocin-induced diabetic cataract in rats

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and glutathione ethyl ester (GSH-EE) eye drops on the progression of diabetic cataract formation induced by streptozotocin (STZ).

METHODS

One hundred and thirty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were selected, and diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (65 mg/kg bodyweight) in a single intraperitoneal injection. The control group (group I) received only vehicle. Then, 78 rats with random blood glucose above 14 mmol/l were divided into four groups (group II-V). The drug-treated rats received NAC and GSH-EE eye drops five days before STZ injection. Group I and V animals received sodium phosphate buffer drops (pH 7.4), and those in groups II, III, and IV received 0.01% NAC, 0.05% NAC, and 0.1% GSH-EE drops, respectively. Lens transparency was monitored with a slit lamp biomicroscope and classified into six stages. At the end of four weeks, eight weeks, and 13 weeks, animals were killed and components involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic cataract including thiols (from glutathione and protein), glutathione reductase (GR), catalase (CAT), and glycated proteins were investigated in the lens extracts. Blood glucose, urine glucose, and bodyweight were also determined.

RESULTS

The progression in lens opacity induced by diabetes showed a biphasic pattern in which an initial slow increase in the first seven weeks after STZ injection was followed by a rapid increase in the next six weeks. The progression of lens opacity in the treated groups (group II-IV) was slower than that of the untreated group (group V) in the earlier period and especially in the fourth week. There were statistically significant differences between the treated groups and the untreated group (p<0.05). However, these differences became insignificant after the sixth week, and the progression of lens opacification in all diabetic groups became aggravated. The content of thiol (from glutathione and protein), glutathione reductase (GR), and catalase (CAT) were lower in the lens extracts of the diabetic rats four weeks, eight weeks, and 13 weeks after the STZ injection while the levels of thiol and CAT activity were both higher in the treated groups (group II-IV) than in the untreated group (group V) at every stage. However, there was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05). Moreover, the diabetes resulted in an increased level of glycated proteins in both the treated groups and the untreated group, but there was no statistically significant difference between all the diabetic groups (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

NAC and GSH-EE can slightly inhibit the progression of the diabetic cataract at the earlier stage. They may maintain lens transparency and function by serving as a precursor for glutathione biosynthesis and by protecting sulfhydryl groups from oxidation.

Postnatal biochemical changes in rat lens: an important factor in cataract models

PURPOSE

Administration of several cataractogenic agents is effective during the first 21 days of rat lens development, a period of the highest sensitivity of the tissue. Thus, cataract formation and lens maturation affect the biochemical profile of rat lens simultaneously and might be difficult to evaluate separately. The purpose of this study was to use high-resolution magic angle spinning proton nuclear magnetic resonance (HR-MAS 1H NMR) to investigate exclusively the effect of maturation on the metabolic profile of rat lens.

METHODS

Albino Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 15) were divided into five groups of three animals and sacrificed at designated times (7, 14, 20, 30, and 60 days). The lenses were dissected, frozen, and thereafter analyzed with HR-MAS 1H NMR spectroscopy. Special grouping patterns among the tissue samples of different age and the relative percentage changes in particular metabolite concentrations were evaluated using appropriate statistical methods (principal components, one-way ANOVA).

RESULTS

Time-dependent alterations in the metabolic profile of the rat lens tissue were dominated by a significant increase in taurine, hypo-taurine, and myoinositol concentrations at the age of 30 days. Contents of the energy metabolites and amino acids were nearly constant between the ages of 14 and 30 days, showing a significant decrease in the 60-day-old rat lenses.

CONCLUSIONS

HR-MAS 1H NMR spectroscopy showed its suitability to assess the natural alterations in the metabolic profile of maturing rat lens. The results can be used in future cataract research designed to evaluate the metabolic effect of different cataractogenic agents during this postnatal period.

Influence of glutathione fructosylation on its properties

Incubation of fructose and glutathione leads to the formation of N-2-deoxy-glucos-2-yl glutathione as the major glycation product, with characteristic positive ion at 470 Th in LC-MS spectra. Glutathione disulfide and fructose generate two compounds: N-2-deoxy-glucos-2-yl glutathione disulfide (m/z=775 Th) and bis di-N,N'-2-deoxy-glucos-2-yl glutathione disulfide (m/z=937 Th). N-2-deoxy-glucos-2-yl glutathione is 2.5-fold less effective than glutathione in reducing dehydroascorbic acid. Glutathione peroxidase and glutahione-S-transferase exhibit marginal activity toward N-2-deoxy-glucos-2-yl glutathione, while glyoxalase I shows 44.9% of the enzyme's specific activity. Glutathione reductase demonstrates 6.9% of the enzyme's specific activity with bis di-N,N'-2-deoxy-glucos-2-yl glutathione, while with mono-N-glucosyl glutathione disulfide retained 5 6.1% of the original activity. Glutathione reductase could not reduce N-2-deoxy-glucos-2-yl glutathione in mixed disulfide with gammaS-crystallin, but reduced glutathione in mixed disulfide with gammaS-crystallin by 90%. The presence of N-2-deoxy-glucos-2-yl glutathione in mixed disulfide with gammaS-crystallin makes this molecule more susceptible to unfolding than native gammaS-crystallin.

Glucose-derived Amadori compounds of glutathione

Under the chromatographic conditions used in these studies we observed time- and concentration-dependent formation of N-1-Deoxy-fructos-1-yl glutathione as the major glycation product formed in the mixtures of GSH with glucose. N-1-Deoxy-fructos-1-yl glutathione had a characteristic positively charged ion with m/z=470 Th in its LC-MS spectra. Mixtures of glutathione disulfide and glucose generated two compounds: N-1-Deoxy-fructos-1-yl GSSG (m/z=775 Th) as major adduct and bis di-N, N'-1-Deoxy-fructos-1-yl GSSG (m/z=937 Th) as the minor one. All three compounds showed a resonance signal at 55.2 ppm in the 13C-NMR spectra as C1 methylene group of deoxyfructosyl, which represents direct evidence that they are Amadori compounds. All three compounds purified from GSSG/Glc or GSH/Glc mixtures also showed LC-MS/MS fragmentation patterns identical to those of the synthetically synthesized N-1-Deoxy-fructos-1-yl glutathione, N-1-Deoxy-fructos-1-yl GSSG and bis di-N, N'-1-Deoxy-fructos-1-yl GSSG. N-1-Deoxy-fructos-1-yl glutathione was shown to be a poor substrate for glutathione peroxidase (6.7% of the enzyme's original specific activity) and glutathione-S-transferase (25.7% of the original enzyme's specific activity). Glutathione reductase failed to recycle the disulfide bond within the structure of di-substituted bis di-N, N'-1-Deoxy-fructos-1-yl GSSG. It showed only 1% of the original enzyme's specific activity, but retained its ability to reduce the disulfide bond within the structure of N-1-Deoxy-fructos-1-yl GSSG by 57% of its original specific activity. Since the GSH concentration in diabetic lens is significantly decreased and the glucose concentration can increase 10-fold and higher, the formation of Amadori products of the different forms of glutathione with this monosaccharide may be favored under these conditions and could contribute to a lowering of glutathione levels and an increase of oxidative stress observed in diabetic lens.

Age-associated oxidative damage leads to absence of gamma-cystathionase in over 50% of rat lenses: relevance in cataractogenesis

Oxidative damage to lens proteins and glutathione depletion play a major role in the development of senile cataract. We previously found that a deficiency in gamma-cystathionase activity may be responsible for glutathione depletion in old lenses. The aims of this study were: (1) to investigate the mechanism that causes the age-related deficiency in gamma-cystathionase activity in the eye lens, and (2) to determine the role of gamma-cystathionase deficiency in cataractogenesis. Two populations of old rats were found, one (56%) whose lenses lacked gamma-cystathionase activity and the rest that exhibited detectable enzyme activity. gamma-Cystathionase protein was absent in lenses from old rats without gamma-cystathionase activity. Oxidative stress targeted gamma-cystathionase in the eye lens upon aging, since the enzyme contained more carbonyl groups in old lenses than in young ones. gamma-Cystathionase mRNA was also markedly reduced in old lenses, thus contributing to the age-associated deficiency in gamma-cystathionase. Inhibition of gamma-cystathionase activity caused glutathione depletion in lenses and led to cataractogenesis in vitro. In conclusion, the lack of gamma-cystathionase activity in over 50% of old lenses is due to decreased gene expression and proteolytic degradation of the oxidized enzyme. This results in a high risk for the development of senile cataract.

Analysis of Lipid Peroxidation and??Electron Microscopic Survey of??Maturation Stages during Human Cataractogenesis

Morphological and biophysical techniques described in this study have shown that membrane derangement occurs in human cataractous lenses. The data suggest that these disruptions were globules, vacuoles, multilamellar membranes and clusters of highly undulating membranes. Deleterious structural damage of the lens fibre cell plasma membranes serve as the primary light-scattering centres that cause the observed lens opacity. Nuclear cataract, a major cause of loss of lens transparency in the aging human, has been thought to be associated with oxidative damage, particularly at the site of the nuclear plasma membrane. Phospholipid molecules modified by oxygen accumulate in the lipid bilayer, change its geometry and impair lipid-lipid and protein-lipid interactions in lenticular fibre membranes. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) is a causative and pathogenic factor in cataract. Increased concentrations of primary molecular LPO products (diene conjugates, lipid hydroperoxides, oxy-derivatives of phospholipid fatty acids) and end-fluorescent LPO products have been detected in the lipid moieties of aqueous humour samples and human lenses obtained from patients with senile and complicated cataracts as compared with normal donors. In the present study, a rapid and simple high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay for determination of imidazole-containing dipeptides in the aqueous humour of the eye was developed. The method was applied to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters and the time-course of N-acetylcarnosine and L-carnosine-related product in the eye, following a single dosage of topical ocular administration of peptide. Utilising data from pharmacokinetic studies and the specific purity of the N-acetylcarnosine (NAC) ingredient as a source of the pharmacological principle L-carnosine, we have created an ophthalmic time-release prodrug form including the US FDA-approved carboxymethylcellulose lubricant and other essential ingredients (Can-C, private label Nu-Eyes). This formulation increases the intraocular absorption of L-carnosine in the aqueous humour and optimises its specific antioxidant activity in vivo while reducing the toxic effects of lipid peroxides on the crystalline lens. L-carnosine that enters the aqueous humour can accumulate in the lens tissue for a reasonable period of time. The presence of L-carnosine in transparent crystalline lenses during normal aging was detected and its concentration in this case was about 25 microM. At different stages of cataract development, the level of L-carnosine drastically decreased, reaching about 5 microM in ripe human cataracts. However, administration of pure L-carnosine (1% solution) to the rabbit eye (instillation or subconjunctival injection) does not lead to accumulation of this natural compound in the aqueous humour at the time level over 30 minutes at a concentration exceeding that in placebo-treated matched eyes, and its effective concentration is exhausted more rapidly. Use of NAC prodrug eye drops optimises the clinical effects of L-carnosine in the treatment of ophthalmic disorders (such as prevention and reversal of cataracts in human and animal [canine] eyes). The data provided predict a clinical effect with NAC ophthalmic prodrug, and show that the magnitude and duration of this effect are directly related to the bioavailability of L-carnosine released from NAC in the aqueous humour of the anterior eye segment. The ophthalmic NAC drug shows promise in the treatment of a range of ophthalmic disorders that have a component of oxidative stress in their pathogenesis (including cataract, glaucoma, dry eye, vitreous floaters, inflammatory disorders, and corneal, retinal and systemic diseases [such as diabetes mellitus and its ophthalmic complications]). There is a need for further and better collaboration between Innovative Vision Products' cataract control and ophthalmic services, improved education of people affected by cataract, a commitment that N-acetylcarnosine eye drops will be the preferred treatment before orthodox cataract surgery is attempted, and consideration of outcomes and a possible role of the NAC drug cataract treatment as source of referral for orthodox surgical, ophthalmic and optometric services.

Failure to withstand oxidative stress induced by phospholipid hydroperoxides as a possible cause of the lens opacities in systemic diseases and ageing

Lipid peroxidation (LPO) is a causative factor of cataract. The increased concentrations of primary molecular LPO products (diene conjugates, lipid hydroperoxides) and end fluorescent LPO products, were detected in the lipid moieties of the aqueous humor samples obtained from patients with senile and complicated cataracts as compared to normal donors. The degrees of lens clouding were assessed quantitatively by measuring the optical density indices and areas of equidensities using digital image analysis. Human cataractous lenses showed decreased activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPX, catalyzing reduction of organic hydroperoxides including hydroperoxides of lipids). The apparent Km for tert-butylhydroperoxide was 0.434 mM for human normal and cataractous lens GPX. When lenses were exposed for 1 h at 37 degrees C to linoleic acid hydroperoxide (LOOH, 0.5 mM) or egg phosphatidyl-choline hydroperoxide (PLOOH, 1 micro mol per 112 micro mol of phospholipid) in liposomes suspended in the incubation medium, normal, immature and mature human cataractous lenses showed a significant loss in the residual content of liberated LOOH to 62%, 38% or 17%, correspondingly, but little or no reduction was observed with PLOOH in liposomal membranes. Human, rabbit or mice transparent or immature cataractous lenses induced significantly more absorbance changes in conjugated diene, iodometric and TBA-reactive substance measurements when incubated with liposomal membranes which were decreased in the presence of free radical scavengers and antioxidant enzymes (EDTA, SOD, L-carnosine, chelated iron, catalase). Injection into the vitreous body of the rabbit eye of a suspension of liposomes prepared from phospholipids containing LPO products induced the development of posterior subcapsular cataract. Saturated liposomes did not cause clouding of the lens. This modelling of cataract was accompanied by accumulation of fluorescing LPO products in the vitreous body, aqueous humor and the lens and also by a fall in the concentration of GSH in the lens. The peroxidative damage to the lens cell membranes and biomolecules induced in the lack of reductive detoxification of phospholipid hydroperoxides is proposed as the triggering mechanism of cataractogenesis.

Age-related change in redox state of human serum albumin

Human serum albumin (HSA) is the mixture of human mercaptalbumin (HMA, reduced form) and human nonmercaptalbumin (HNA, oxidized form). We developed a rapid and concise HPLC system to obtain the clear resolution of HSA into HMA and HNA, using an Asahipak GS-520H column. The mean value of the fraction of HMA (f(HMA)) for healthy young male subjects was 0.76 +/- 0.04 (n = 54). However, the f(HMA, 60-90) value for healthy elderly subjects (where the numbers in brackets indicate the range of ages) was 0.48 +/- 0.06 (n = 183). In healthy elderly subjects, f(HMA) was significantly lower than in healthy young male subjects, indicating that HSA in the elderly becomes more oxidized than in the young subjects. Consequently, we suggest that one of the important functions of serum albumin could be to participate in the maintenance of a constant redox potential in the extracellular fluids, thus securing a certain redox buffer capacity. f(HMA) on HSA might reflect this redox buffer capacity with age.

N-acetyl cysteine enhances the response to interferon-alpha in chronic hepatitis C: a pilot study

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an RNA virus that replicates in both the liver and lymphoid cells. Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) is a useful treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) although resistance to this drug occurs frequently. The mechanisms underlying resistance to IFN remain unknown. In this work, we have measured the levels of glutathione in plasma and peripheral lymphoid cells from 15 healthy controls and 24 CHC patients, 10 of whom were without treatment and 14 showed high serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values despite therapy with lymphoblastoid IFN for more than 4 months. In all patients, glutathione levels in plasma and in mononuclear cells were depressed in comparison to controls. In IFN-unresponsive patients, the addition of 600 mg tid of oral N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), a glutathione precursor, resulted in a steady decrease of ALT values in all patients, with complete normalization in 41% of cases after 5-6 months of combined therapy. Administration of NAC alone for 1 month was without effect in the 10 patients that were not receiving IFN. Supplementation of IFN with NAC induced a near normalization of intralymphocytic glutathione, but plasma levels were only moderately increased. HCV replication was markedly inhibited in lymphocytes and viremia was cleared in one of the 8 patients tested. In conclusion, NAC enhances the response to IFN in CHC. Controlled studies are needed to ascertain whether antioxidant therapy might act in synergy with IFN in chronic viral hepatitis.

An in situ perfused guinea-pig eye model for blood-ocular transport studies: application to amino acids

A technique for in situ vascular eye perfusion (VEP) in the guinea-pig has been developed for measurements of the blood-ocular transport kinetics of substrates under controlled conditions of arterial inflow. The blood-aqueous and blood-vitreous barriers remained intact to the vascular space marker [3H]dextran (MW 70 kDa) with the perfusion pressure maintained between 80 and 100 mmHg. Several 3H-, 14C- or 35S-labeled amino acids, and 3H- or 14C-labeled sucrose (extracellular space marker) were used to validate the VEP model for transport kinetic studies. Multiple time-point graphic analysis was used to estimate the compartmental unidirectional blood-ocular transport constants, K(in), within the 20 min period of the VEP experiment. Blood-to-aqueous humor K(in) values for [3H]serine, [14C]N-methyl-alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (MeAIB) and [3H] or ]14C]sucrose were 3.57 +/- 0.38, 1.21 +/- 0.13 and 1.13 +/- 0.17 microliters min-1 g-1, respectively. The respective blood-to-lens K(in) values for labeled serine, MeAIB and sucrose were 1.71 +/- 0.19, 0.09 +/- 0.03 and 0.03 +/- 0.002 microliters min-1 g-1. The uptake of newly secreted amino acids from the aqueous humor in the lens followed the order: [35S]methionine greater than [3H]serine greater than or equal to [35S]cysteine greater than or equal to [3H]alanine greater than [14C]cycloleucine greater than or equal to [14C]MeAIB greater than or equal to [3H] or [14C]sucrose. The data indicate lack of a rapid blood-to-lens uptake of two model amino acids defining the A and L amino acid carriers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of aging on glutathione metabolism. Protection by antioxidants

The free radical theory of aging suggests that oxygen free radicals may be involved in the aging process. Thus, changes in antioxidant mechanisms may occur with aging. Since glutathione is one of the most effective antioxidant systems in the cell, its metabolism may change with aging. In this chapter we describe experiments which show the involvement of glutathione in the aging process and which provide a rationale for the administration of antioxidants to old organisms to protect them against some of the changes that occur with aging.

Senile cataract: a review on free radical related pathogenesis and antioxidant prevention

Glutathione metabolism plays an essential role in the homeostasis of the lens. Thus, it is not surprising that experimental depletion of this substance leads to a process of lens disorganization similar to senile cataract and that in all types of irreversible cataract there is a decrease in the glutathione content of the lens. Therefore, it may be useful in preventive geriatrics to raise the glutathione concentration of the lens and, since glutathione monoethyl ester can cross the capsule and membranes of the lens, administration of this compound may be the treatment of choice. This could be complemented by long-term administration of small doses of acetylsalicylic acid, in the early stages of the development of cataracts. The data also suggest that, in the 'high lactose absorbers', diets deprived of lactose (in addition to antioxidant administration) may play a role in protecting against cataract development and may even reverse some of the early changes that occur in cataractous lenses. The present review provides a justification for detection of cataract risk factors (high lactose absorption and low antioxidant protection in blood) as well as for preventive and palliative treatment of cataracts by administration of physiological antioxidants.