Incidence and Risk Factors of Corneal Endothelial Failure after Phacoemulsification in Patients with Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy: A 13-Year Retrospective Cohort

Evaluation of the ratio of different major and trace elements in the lens of dogs with cataract

BACKGROUND

Understanding the elements that support cataract development and searching for available therapeutic methods is essential for scientific and social interest. For that purpose, the role of trace elements has been investigated in this study to better understand the development of cataracts in dogs.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ratio of the major and trace elements by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry in dog cataract lenses to contribute to diagnostic, non-surgical, and ophthalmological preventive data.

METHODS

A single lens with a cataract from each of a total of 88 dogs (cataract group) and a healthy lens from each of 6 dogs (control group) were evaluated. The elements calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), and potassium (K) were analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence and X-ray microfluorescence.

RESULTS

The results indicated an increase of Ca, Fe, Cu, and Zn, in association with the reabsorption mechanism of hypermature cataracts.

CONCLUSIONS

The ratio of elements Ca, Fe, Cu, and Zn was different in cataract lenses than in healthy lenses, and our results may support the development of therapeutic strategies for cataracts in dogs. The Ca concentrations were distinct in the cataract development stages, and the Fe concentration was relatively higher in males when compared to females. Finally, this research stands out with a particular contribution to the understanding of both cataract formation and prevention.

Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy associated risk variant, rs3768617 in LAMC1 shows allele specific binding of GFI1B

AIMS

To investigate the genetic and functional association of an intronic variant of LAMC1, rs3768617 with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) in the Indian population.

METHODS

Blood samples were collected from age and sex matched 356 controls and 120 FECD patients after a detailed assessment via specular microscopy. Genomic DNA was extracted and genotyping was done by fluorescence based capillary electrophoresis. The genetic association of rs3768617 polymorphisms was computed by the chi-square (χ²) test. Bioinformatics studies were performed to find the allele specific binding of different transcription factors in the region of rs3768617 and functional evaluation assessed by luciferase assay followed by Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) and Chromatin Immunoprecipitation assay (ChIP). Immunofluorescence assay was carried out to check for any differential expression of GFI1B between control and FECD endothelium samples.

RESULTS

SNP rs3768617 {chr1:183123365 (GRCh38.p13)} was found to be genetically associated with FECD in Indian population (p = 2.646 × 10^-8). Luciferase assay suggested that the rs3768617 locus has a regulatory role. In silico analysis showed that the transcription factor, GFI1B binds to the risk allele 'G' of rs3768617, but not to the protective allele 'A' which was also experimentally validated by EMSA. High enrichment of DNA flanking the surrounding region of rs3768617 was also found in presence of GFI1B specific antibody in ChIP assay. There was a 0.63 fold decrease in GFI1B expression in FECD affected corneal endothelium compared to control endothelium.

CONCLUSIONS

The genetic association of rs3768617 in LAMC1 with FECD pathogenesis is mediated by GFI1B, thus finding the functional role of LAMC1 in FECD pathogenesis.