This research group conducts basic and clinically oriented research on the mechanisms responsible for cataract formation. Researchers in this section are interested in the regulation of gene expression in oxidative stress models of cataract and in mechanisms responsible for gender-based differences in cataract development in aging populations.
Oxidative stress is believed to be responsible for age-related cataract.
Our laboratory is using several models of cataract to assess the molecular changes that occur during oxidative stress. Differential display was used to identify differentially expressed genes in lens epithelial cells of cataract patients when compared to normal donors. It is possible that metallothionein is up regulated in human lens cells in response to oxidative insult. This finding indicates that mitochondrial gene expression is sensitive to oxidative stress, and suggests that subsequent dysfunction of the electron transport system could occur. A third model of cataract is being evaluated in animals.