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Antioxidant markers in human senile and diabetic cataractous lenses
Zehra Hashim1, Shamshad Zarina
1Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.
Objective:
To determine the role of free radicals and antioxidant enzymes in patients suffering from cataract due to aging and diabetes.
Design:
Experimental study.
Place And Duration Of Study:
Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi from December 2004 to May 2005.
Patients And Methods:
The study was conducted on 80 cataract patients. Lens and plasma samples from senile and diabetic subjects suffering from cataract were analyzed and activity of Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu, Zn-SOD) was measured using xanthine oxidase system. Catalase (CAT) activity was estimated. Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured by thiobarbituric acid reaction. Student's t- test was employed for analysis of results.
Results:
Significant difference (p<0.001) was found in activity of Cu, Zn-SOD in cataract lenses from diabetic patients as compared to senile subjects, CAT activities was also lower (p<0.001) in lenses from diabetic cataract patients when compared to lenses from senile cataractous subjects. Lens MDA levels were significantly higher (p<0.001) in cataract lenses from diabetic patients than in senile subjects. Plasma MDA levels were lowest (p<0.001) in controls as compared to senile and diabetic cataractous patients.
Conclusion:
Results of present study suggest that increased production of high levels of free oxygen species is linked to glucose oxidation and non-enzymatic glycation of proteins. Furthermore, elevated glucose levels might be involved in the insufficiency of antioxidant enzymatic activity and in the progression of lipid peroxidation.
