Expression and significance of α2 subunit of 20s proteasome in anterior capsule of lens in patients with age-related cataract

Objective To identify the relationship between the degree of lens opacity and the hardness of nuclear and the protein expression level of 20s proteasome α2 subunit in age-related cataract patients. Methods Phacoemulsification or small incision cataract extraction was performed in 120 cases (60 cases of nuclear and 60 cases of cortical) and collected these anterior capsules. According to the degree of hardness and opacity of the lens nucleus, the nucleus was divided into group A: young nucleus, group B: old nuclear; cortical was divided into group A: mild opacity, group B: severe haze. Two types of cataract in group A, group B; and Western-blot was used to determine the 20s proteasome subunit alpha 2 expression levels in two groups of patients with ARC in the anterior lens capsule; experimental research work from July 2015 to March 2016. Results Compared with group A, the group B, 20s proteasome subunit α2 expression levels were significantly lower (nuclear (0.99±0.02) VS (0.58±0.08) P <0.01, cortical (1.26±0.15) VS (0.89±0.09), P <0.05, with the degree of lens opacity and nuclear hardness with the 20s proteasome α2 subunit content in age-related cataract patients was negatively correlated. Conclusions The protein expression levels of 20s protein α2 subunit in the anterior capsule of age-related cataract patients decrease with the degree of lens opacity and the hardness of the nucleus. Key words: Age-related cataract; 20s proteasome α2 subunit; Ubiquitin proteasome pathway; Anterior capsule