title: Lens epithelial cell apoptosis and intracellular Ca2+ increase in the presence of xanthurenic acid.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Xanthurenic acid is an endogenous product of tryptophan degradation by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). We have previously reported that IDO is present in mammalian lenses, and xanthurenic acid is accumulated in the lenses with aging. Here, we studied the involvement of xanthurenic acid in the human lens epithelial cell physiology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human lens epithelial cells primary cultures were used. Control cells, and cells in the presence of xanthurenic acid grow in the dark. Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence studies were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the presence of xanthurenic acid human lens epithelial cells undergo apoptosis-like cell death. In the control cells gelsolin stained the perinuclear region, whereas in the presence of 10 microM xanthurenic acid gelsolin is translocated to the cytoskeleton, but does not lead to cytoskeleton breakdown. In the same condition caspase-3 activation, and DNA fragmentation was observed. At low (5 to 10 microM) of xanthurenic acid concentration, the elongation of the cytoskeleton was associated with migration of mitochondria and cytochrome c release. At higher concentrations xanthurenic acid (20 microM and 40 microM) damaged mitochondria were observed in the perinuclear region, and nuclear DNA cleavage was observed. We observed an induction of calpain Lp 82 and an increase of free Ca2+ in the cells in a xanthurenic acid concentration-dependent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show that xanthurenic acid accumulation in human lens epithelial cells disturbs the normal cell physiology and leads to a cascade of pathological events. Xanthurenic acid induces calpain Lp82 and caspases in the cells growing in the dark and can be involved in senile cataract development.
authors.affiliation: Swiss Cardiovascular Research Center, Inselspital, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland. halina.malina@dkf2.unibe.ch
authors.forename: Halina
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Malina
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Frueh
authors.forename: Otto M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Hess
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002154:Calpain / Q000378:metabolism; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D018260:Gelsolin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014019:Tissue Donors; D014977:Xanthurenates / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D018260:Gelsolin; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D014977:Xanthurenates; C028330:xanthurenic acid; D045304:Cytochromes c; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D002154:Calpain; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; C118624:calpain Lp82; D002118:Calcium