Objective To explore the relationship between galactose-induced apoptosis of lens epithelial cells and cataractogenesis.Methods Galactose was injected retrobulbarly into Wistar rats.The opacity of lens was examined by slit lamp.The expression of C-MYC was measured by flow cytometer.The apoptosis of lens epithelial cells was observed by TUNEL techniques.Results More than 50 percent of lenses were in the Ⅱ stage of cataractogenesis on the(7 d) after galactose induction;Eighty-seven percent of lenses were in the Ⅳ-Ⅴ stage on the(14 d),and 100 percent of lenses were in the Ⅳ-Ⅴ stage on the(24 d).The rate of apoptotic cell on the(7 d) and on the(14 d) after galactose induction was respectively 5.6%～8.4% and 30.2%～41.8%,and 60% apoptotic cells were observed on the(24 d).The levels of C-MYC expression in lens epithelial cells induced by galactose on the(7 d) and(14 d) were higher than that of normal lenses,but the level of C-MYC expression backed to normal level on the(24 d).Conclusion It was suggested that there are some apoptosis of the lens epithelial cells during galactose-induced cataractogenesis and that the apoptosis of the lens epithelial cells might be caused by higher expression of C-MYC.

Background Various studies demonstrated that the apoptosis of lens epithelial cells(LECs) is associated with the overexpression of the c-myc gene in LECs induced by galactose.Inhibiting the abnormal expression of the c-myc gene in LECs is an effective approach to mitigate the pathogenesis and development of cataract.Objective The goal of this study is to investigate the inhibitory effects of c-myc antisense oligodeoxynucleotide(c-myc ASODN) on the apoptosis of LECs in the eye with galactose-induced cataract.Methods Galactose-induced cataract models were established by the retrobulbar injection of 0.2 mL of 20% galactose once per day.Lipo-antisense oligodeoxynucleotide(Lipo-ASODN,0.2 mL) was retrobulbarly injected 4 hours after the injection of galactose at one-day intervals.The animals were sacrificed and lenses were obtained to evaluate the apoptosis of LECs and the effect of c-myc ASODN on LECs apoptosis induced by galactose was examined by TUNEL assay after 7,14 and 24 days.The ultrastructural changes of LECs were examined under the transmission electron microscopy(TEM).Results A significant difference in the apoptotic rate of LECs was found among the 7 day,14 day and 24 day groups(F_(7 days)=3 418.495,P＜0.01;F_(14 days)=1137.555,P＜0.01;F_(24 days)=2198.871,P＜0.01).The apoptotic rate of LECs in the galactose group was markedly higher than that in the normal saline solution group 7 days,14 days and 24 days after the experiment(P＜0.01).The apoptotic rate of LECs in the galactose+lipo+ ASODN group significantly declined in comparison to the galactose group after 7 days,14 days and 24 days(P＜0.05).TUNEL assay showed the condensation,breakage and irregularity of the nuclei of apoptotic cells in the galactose group.The destruction of the ultrastructure of the cells and organelles were observed under the transmission electron microscope.Conclusion Galactose induces apoptosis of LECs in cataractogenesis.C-myc ASODN inhibits apoptosis of LECs induced by galactose.

Laccases (benzenediol: oxygen oxidoreductases; EC 1.10.3.2) are copper-containing polyphenol oxidases that can oxidize a wide range of aromatic compounds, concomitantly with the transfer of four electrons and the reduction of molecular oxygen to water. The progress on the research of laccases structure and function is reviewed. Their three-dimensional structures and catalytic mechanism, as well as their applications in different fields are emphasized.
Catalysis ; Hydrocarbons, Aromatic ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Laccase ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction

It is one of the key points for modernization and internationalization of traditional Chinese medicines to construct the Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) base of Chinese materia medica (CMM).GAP helps to minimize contamination and improve the quality of CMM during the plantation and the production of Chinese crude drugs.In this article,the status and development of CMM production bases of GAP in Guangdong Province,China,are presented.The suggestions upon the problems during the development of GAP for Chinese crude drugs are also provided.