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Antioxidants
Special Issues
Oxidative Stress in Cataracts: Mechanisms and Therapies
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Oxidative Stress in Cataracts: Mechanisms and Therapies

A special issue of Antioxidants (ISSN 2076-3921). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Outcomes of Antioxidants and Oxidative Stress".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 February 2025 | Viewed by 3218

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Marjorie F. Lou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Redox Biology Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA
Interests: mechanism of cataract formation; lens protein thiolation; oxidative damage; glutathione; glutaredoxin and thioredoxin enzyme systems; redox signaling; redox regulation
Dr. Hongli Wu

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC), Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
Interests: eyes; ocular diseases; cataracts
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cataracts, a widespread and leading cause of vision impairment worldwide, manifest as clouding of the eye's natural lens. This clouding effect can progressively obstruct vision, leading to difficulties in daily activities and a reduced quality of life for affected individuals.

One of the key mechanisms underlying the formation of cataracts is oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance between the production of harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the body's ability to neutralize them with antioxidants. In the eye, this imbalance can lead to the oxidation of proteins and lipids within the lens, causing structural changes that result in cloudiness and opacity.

This Special Issue aims to gather cutting-edge research from experts in the field, highlighting the pivotal role of oxidative stress in cataract pathogenesis. It will cover topics such as:

  • The role of oxidative stress in cataract initiation and maturation;
  • The molecular pathways and signaling involved in oxidative-stress-induced lens damage;
  • The effects of dietary and environmental factors on oxidative stress and cataracts;
  • The potential of natural and synthetic antioxidants as therapeutic agents for cataracts;
  • The challenges and opportunities for developing novel antioxidant-based strategies for cataract prevention and treatment.

Prof. Dr. Marjorie F. Lou
Dr. Hongli Wu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Antioxidants is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cataract
  • Posterior Capsule Opacification (PCO)
  • oxidative damage
  • antioxidant
  • redox regulation

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Review

16 pages, 5854 KiB  
Review
Oxidative Stress in Genetic Cataract Formation
by James Fielding Hejtmancik
Antioxidants 2024, 13(11), 1315; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13111315 - 29 Oct 2024
Viewed by 257
Abstract
Background: Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide, and age-related cataracts are the result of environmental insults that largely lead to oxidative stress imposed on a genetic background that determines susceptibility to these stresses. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was performed to [...] Read more.
Background: Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide, and age-related cataracts are the result of environmental insults that largely lead to oxidative stress imposed on a genetic background that determines susceptibility to these stresses. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was performed to identify GWAS, targeted association studies, and TWAS that identified genes associated with age-related cataract. Additional genes associated with age-related cataracts were identified through the CAT-MAP online database. Pathway analysis was performed using Qiagen Ingenuity Pathway Analysis and pathways related to oxidative stress were analyzed using the same program. Results: A large number of genes have been identified as causes of both Mendelian and complex cataracts. Of these, 10 genes related to oxidative stress were identified, and all were associated with age-related cataracts. These genes fall into seven canonical pathways primarily related to glutathione metabolism and other pathways related to detoxifying reactive oxygen species. Conclusions: While a relatively small number of antioxidant related genes were identified as being associated with cataracts, they allow the identification of redox pathways important for lens metabolism and homeostasis. These are largely related to glutathione and its metabolism, other pathways for detoxification of reactive oxygen species, and the transcriptional systems that control their expression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidative Stress in Cataracts: Mechanisms and Therapies)
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22 pages, 2358 KiB  
Review
Oxidative Stress in Cataract Formation: Is There a Treatment Approach on the Horizon?
by Jingyan Li, Francesco Buonfiglio, Ying Zeng, Norbert Pfeiffer and Adrian Gericke
Antioxidants 2024, 13(10), 1249; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13101249 - 16 Oct 2024
Viewed by 871
Abstract
Cataracts, a leading cause of blindness worldwide, are closely linked to oxidative stress-induced damage to lens epithelial cells (LECs). Key factors contributing to cataract formation include aging, arterial hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Given the high global prevalence of cataracts, the burden of cataract-related [...] Read more.
Cataracts, a leading cause of blindness worldwide, are closely linked to oxidative stress-induced damage to lens epithelial cells (LECs). Key factors contributing to cataract formation include aging, arterial hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Given the high global prevalence of cataracts, the burden of cataract-related visual impairment is substantial, highlighting the need for pharmacological strategies to supplement surgical interventions. Understanding the molecular pathways involved in oxidative stress during cataract development may offer valuable insights for designing novel therapeutic approaches. This review explores the role of oxidative stress in cataract formation, focusing on critical mechanisms, such as mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, loss of gap junctions, and various cell death pathways in LECs. Additionally, we discuss emerging therapeutic strategies and potential targeting options, including antioxidant-based treatments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidative Stress in Cataracts: Mechanisms and Therapies)
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12 pages, 3965 KiB  
Review
Oxidative Stress, Glutaredoxins, and Their Therapeutic Potential in Posterior Capsular Opacification
by Chenshuang Li, Weijia Yan and Hong Yan
Antioxidants 2024, 13(10), 1210; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13101210 - 8 Oct 2024
Viewed by 563
Abstract
Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) is the most common long-term complication of cataract surgery. Traditionally, the pathogenesis of PCO involves the residual lens epithelial cells (LECs), which undergo transdifferentiation into a myofibroblast phenotype, hyperproliferation, matrix contraction, and matrix deposition. This process is driven by [...] Read more.
Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) is the most common long-term complication of cataract surgery. Traditionally, the pathogenesis of PCO involves the residual lens epithelial cells (LECs), which undergo transdifferentiation into a myofibroblast phenotype, hyperproliferation, matrix contraction, and matrix deposition. This process is driven by the marked upregulation of inflammatory and growth factors post-surgery. Recently, research on the role of redox environments has gained considerable attention. LECs, which are in direct contact with the aqueous humour after cataract surgery, are subjected to oxidative stress due to decreased levels of reduced glutathione and increased oxygen content compared to contact with the outer fibre layer of the lens before surgery. In this review, we examine the critical role of oxidative stress in PCO formation. We also focus on glutaredoxins (Grxs), which are antioxidative enzymes produced via deglutathionylation, their protective role against PCO formation, and their therapeutic potential. Furthermore, we discuss the latest advancements in PCO therapy, particularly the development of advanced antioxidative pharmacological agents, and emphasise the importance and approaches of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant treatments in PCO management. In conclusion, this review highlights the significant roles of oxidative stress in PCO, the protective effects of Grxs against PCO formation, and the potential of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant therapies in treating PCO. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidative Stress in Cataracts: Mechanisms and Therapies)
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22 pages, 2798 KiB  
Review
Minimizing Oxidative Stress in the Lens: Alternative Measures for Elevating Glutathione in the Lens to Protect against Cataract
by Julie C. Lim, Lanpeng Jiang, Natasha G. Lust and Paul J. Donaldson
Antioxidants 2024, 13(10), 1193; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13101193 - 1 Oct 2024
Viewed by 937
Abstract
Oxidative stress plays a major role in the formation of the cataract that is the result of advancing age, diabetes or which follows vitrectomy surgery. Glutathione (GSH) is the principal antioxidant in the lens, and so supplementation with GSH would seem like an [...] Read more.
Oxidative stress plays a major role in the formation of the cataract that is the result of advancing age, diabetes or which follows vitrectomy surgery. Glutathione (GSH) is the principal antioxidant in the lens, and so supplementation with GSH would seem like an intuitive strategy to counteract oxidative stress there. However, the delivery of glutathione to the lens is fraught with difficulties, including the limited bioavailability of GSH caused by its rapid degradation, anatomical barriers of the anterior eye that result in insufficient delivery of GSH to the lens, and intracellular barriers within the lens that limit delivery of GSH to its different regions. Hence, more attention should be focused on alternative methods by which to enhance GSH levels in the lens. In this review, we focus on the following three strategies, which utilize the natural molecular machinery of the lens to enhance GSH and/or antioxidant potential in its different regions: the NRF2 pathway, which regulates the transcription of genes involved in GSH homeostasis; the use of lipid permeable cysteine-based analogues to increase the availability of cysteine for GSH synthesis; and the upregulation of the lens’s internal microcirculation system, which is a circulating current of Na+ ions that drives water transport in the lens and with it the potential delivery of cysteine or GSH. The first two strategies have the potential to restore GSH levels in the epithelium and cortex, while the ability to harness the lens’s internal microcirculation system offers the exciting potential to deliver and elevate antioxidant levels in its nucleus. This is an important distinction, as the damage phenotypes for age-related (nuclear) and diabetic (cortical) cataract indicate that antioxidant delivery must be targeted to different regions of the lens in order to alleviate oxidative stress. Given our increasing aging and diabetic populations it has become increasingly important to consider how the natural machinery of the lens can be utilized to restore GSH levels in its different regions and to afford protection from cataract. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidative Stress in Cataracts: Mechanisms and Therapies)
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