Abstract
Purpose :
Formation of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) in tissues with negligible protein turnover, such as the lens capsule, leads to their accumulation with aging. We have previously shown that AGEs in the lens capsule exacerbate TGFβ2-mediated mesenchymal transition of lens epithelial cells and proposed that capsule AGEs could play a role in posterior capsule opacification (PCO) after cataract surgery (Raghavan et al., Aging Cell, 15, 465, 2016). To determine the effects of diabetes on capsule AGEs, in this study we measured the levels of AGEs in capsulorhexis specimens collected from non-diabetic and diabetic [with or without retinopathy (DR)] cataract patients.
Methods :
Capsulorhexis specimens were obtained at the time of cataract surgery from consented patients at the Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center. Following removal of adherent epithelial cells and fiber cell mass, capsulorhexis specimens were hydrolyzed with enzymes or 6N HCl to measure AGEs. We measured 14 AGEs using an LC-MS/MS multimethod and reference compounds. Means and 95% confidence intervals of each AGE were compared across the three patient groups.
Results :
Patients included 48 non-diabetic, 42 diabetic without DR and 30 diabetic with DR. Among the AGEs measured, the levels of CMA were highest for all patient groups but did not significantly differ; 205.9 ± 21.4, 246.7 ± 22.8 and 217.1 ± 27.8 pmoles/µmol OH-proline equivalent in nondiabetics, diabetics and diabetics with DR, respectively. The levels of other AGEs were < 50 pmoles/ µmol OH-proline equivalent. When adjusted for age and gender, the levels of most AGEs were similar between diabetics (with or without DR) and nondiabetics, although glucosepane was significantly lower for non-diabetics.
Conclusions :
Our data show that the AGE levels are similar in non-diabetic and diabetic (with or without DR) capsules and provide a biochemical basis for the similar incidence of PCO in nondiabetic and diabetic cataract patients, observed in some studies.
This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.