Роль Δ-9-десатуразы в катарактогенезе

Abstract

Cataract is one of the most common eye diseases and one of the leading causes of blindness in the world, along with glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. In this regard, understanding the molecular mechanism of lens pathology may be useful for the development of alternative treatments and the creation of new drugs that can delay the development of this disease. Aim. To study the content of Δ-9-desaturase and macroelements in the lenses of the eyes against the background of cataract development. Material and methods. The study was conducted on mature male Wistar rats (n = 40), from which two groups were formed: control and experimental. animals of the experimental group modeled age-related cataract using ultraviolet irradiation for 6 months. On the 2nd and 6th month of the experiment, eye lenses were taken to assess the level of desaturases by enzyme immunoassay; macronutrients by mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma. Results. At the stage of initial and mature cataracts, the level of Δ-9-desaturase in the lenses of the eyes of laboratory animals was lower than in intact animals by 53% (p ≤ 0.05) and 53.3% (p ≤ 0.05), respectively. With the progression of cataracts, a violation of macronutrient homeostasis was observed, which was accompanied by an increase in the level of ca and na against the background of a decrease in K, mg and p in the lenses of the eyes. Conclusions. The decrease in the concentration of stearyl-coenzyme-a-desaturase in the lenses of the eyes of laboratory animals during the development of cataracts is of a local protective and compensatory nature, aimed at increasing the “rigidity” of cell membranes against the background of an increase in the intensity of lipid peroxidation and a decrease in the activity of the antioxidant system. Such a change in the properties of cell membranes leads to a violation of their functional abilities, in particular, permeability, and, as a result, disruption of macronutrient homeostasis. Keywords: eye lens, cataract, Δ-9-desaturase, fatty acids, macronutrients