BACKGROUND: To investigate associations of senescence marker protein-30 and senescence-associated β-galactosidase expression with lens epithelial cells apoptosis among Chinese age-related cataract patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 145 age-related cataract patients (69 cases with nuclear cataract in 91 eyes and 76 cases of cortical cataract with 102 eyes) were enrolled in our study. An annular tear of the central part of anterior lens capsules was performed for each patient. Immunohistochemical staining and real-time PCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression levels, and TUNEL was used to assess lens epithelial cells apoptosis. Comparisons of protein expression levels and lens epithelial cells apoptosis were made between the 2 groups.

RESULTS: The results showed a higher protein expression level of senescence marker protein-30 in surrounding parts of the anterior lens capsule compared with the central part of the anterior lens capsule; however, the positive rate of senescence-associated β-galactosidase was remarkably higher in the central part than in the surrounding part. Compared with cortical cataract patients, nuclear cataract patients had elevated senescence marker protein-30 protein and mRNA expression levels, but had a decreased positive rate of senescence-associated β-galactosidase. TUNEL results showed that the lens epithelial cell apoptosis rate was higher in the central part of the anterior lens capsule than in the surrounding part in both groups. Within either central or surrounding area of anterior lens capsule, cortical cataract patients exhibited a significantly higher lens epithelial cell apoptosis rate in contrast with nuclear cataract patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study results suggest that senescence marker protein-30 and senescence-associated β-galactosidase expressions in both nuclear cataract and cortical cataract patients were associated with lens epithelial cells apoptosis.

Keywords: Aged, 80 and over, Apoptosis - physiology, Calcium-Binding Proteins - metabolism, Case-Control Studies, Cataract - pathology, Epithelial Cells - pathology, In Situ Nick-End Labeling, Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - metabolism, Lens, Crystalline - metabolism, RNA, Messenger - metabolism, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction, beta-Galactosidase - metabolism