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Age-Related Cataracts in 3Cx46-Knockout Mice Are Dependent on a Calpain 3 Isoform

¹From the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois; the ³Department of Biological Sciences, Illinois College of Optometry, Chicago, Illinois; the ⁴Departments of Ophthalmology and ⁵Pathology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois; ⁶Généthon, Évry, France.

PURPOSE. Previous studies have demonstrated that in 1293Cx46^–/– mice, age-related nuclear cataract is formed. In the present study, a more in vivo-relevant model was generated to test the hypothesis that the calpain 3 gene is involved in age-related nuclear cataractogenesis in 3Cx46 knockout mice.

METHODS. To test the hypothesis that the calpain 3 gene is involved in age-related nuclear cataractogenesis in 3Cx46 knockout mice, 1293Cx46^–/– and CAPN3^–/– mice were mated to generate homozygous double-knockout (dKO) mice. Lenses from the mice were examined by visual observation, laser scan analysis, and histologic and biochemical methods.

RESULTS. In the absence of the CAPN3 gene, the formation of a cataract was delayed, and its appearance was changed to a more diffuse, pulverulent type. Unlike in the 1293Cx46^–/– mouse, cleavage of -crystallin was not detected in the dKO mouse. In both 1293Cx46^–/– and dKO mice, total Ca²⁺ increased.

CONCLUSIONS. The present study shows for the first time that calpain 3 is necessary for the formation of age-dependent nuclear cataracts in 3Cx46^–/– mice. Evidence that the calpain 3 gene is directly involved in, or part of the pathway that leads to, -crystallin cleavage is presented. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the loss of 3Cx46 leads to increased levels of Ca²⁺ ions, and this increase activates the CAPN3 isoform, Lp82/85, which results in the formation of a nuclear cataract.

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