Expression of p53 and caspase-8 in lens epithelial cells of diabetic cataract

摘要

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a systemic disease that affects many organs including the eye. Diabetes mellitus causes microvascular complications, including reti-nopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy, and exacts high health care costs. Patients with DM are more likely to develop cataracts than patients without DM. Diabetic patients also tend to develop cataracts earlier in life than those without DM.The risk for cataract formation increases with poor diabetic control as manifested by high hemoglobin Ale (HbAlc) or kidney disease, with increased age, and with the duration of the disease.2'3 The process of diabetic cataractogenesis is still not fully understood. When glucose levels are high, normal glucose metabolism is changed. High glucose induces activation of the polyol, hexosamine, and advanced glyca-tibn pathways, leading to the accumulation of abnormal product in the lens.4 The increased accumulation in the lens causes cell damage and is associated with the loss of lens transparency, leading to development of cataract.