The significance of Akt/NF-κb signaling pathway in the posterior cataract animal model

Bratisl Lek Listy. 2017;118(7):423-426. doi: 10.4149/BLL_2017_082.

Abstract

Objective: To establish SD rat posterior capsular opacification (posterior capsular opacification- PCO) animal model, and to detect the expression of Akt/NF-kb signaling pathway in the PCO model.

Methods: 30 healthy SD rats were randomly divided into control group (0d) and the experimental groups (7d and 14 d), there were 10 rats at all time points. All rats (right eye) were treated with the lens capsule, and the inflammatory reaction of the anterior segment of the eye and the occurrence of PCO at different time points were observed under the microscope. The TGF-β concentration of humor aquosus was measured at the different time points by ELISA method. Eyeballs were removed after the rats were killed. RT-PCR method was used to detect the gene expression levels of Akt and NF-κb and Westen Blot method to detect the protein expression of Akt, p-Akt, NF-κb and p-NF-κb.

Results: TGF-β concentration, Akt and NF-κb gene expression, and Akt, p-Akt, NF-κb and p-NF-κb protein expression in humor aquosus, increased with the time and the time-dependence was significant.

Conclusion: Akt/NF-κb signaling pathway may be closely related to the occurrence and development of PCO, which may be related to the role of protein phosphorylation (Fig. 5, Ref. 20).

Keywords: Akt; NF-κb; TGF-β PCO..

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cataract / metabolism*
  • Cataract / therapy
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Lens Capsule, Crystalline
  • Male
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism*
  • Random Allocation
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • NF-kappa B
  • AKT1 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt