Plasma membrane-cytoskeleton damage in eye lenses of transgenic mice expressing desmin

Immunocytochemistry of eye lens cells from transgenic mice coexpressing desmin and vimentin reveals that the transgenic desmin expression is not uniform. In the same lens, some epithelial and fiber cells overexpress desmin, while in others the desmin gene seems to be silent. Conversely, the endogenous vimentin is always expressed. The concomitant expression of vimentin and desmin results in the assembly of hybrid intermediate filaments (IFs). Moreover, the overexpression of the transgene generates pleomorphic IF assembly and leads to intermingled filamentous whorls and to accumulation of amorphous desmin. The abnormalities of IF assembly induced by the genetic manipulation are correlated with perturbation of the enucleation process in the lens fibers, changes in cell shape, fiber fusion and extensive internalization of the general plasma membrane and junctional domains. The alterations of lens cells described in this study were observed in all transgenic mice examined. The level of expression of the transgene was paralleled by the degree of damage. Our results indicate that proper expression, assembly and membrane interaction of IFs play an important role in the terminal differentiation of the lenticular epithelium into fiber cells. We anticipate that alterations during these processes may initiate cataract formation.