Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 29, 2026

Studying the Stoichiometry of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Intact Cells using Correlative Microscopy
09:16

Studying the Stoichiometry of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Intact Cells using Correlative Microscopy

Published on: September 11, 2015

8.7K

Targeting Retinoic Acid Receptor-Related Orphan Receptor α to Prevent Cataracts: A New Pathway Through Nerve Growth

Zhenyu Wang1, Jinda Wang1, Xuemin Li2

  • 1Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Beijing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.

Antioxidants & Redox Signaling
|January 27, 2026
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Retinoic acid Receptor-related orphan receptor α (RORα) activation protects against oxidative stress and apoptosis, offering a potential nonsurgical treatment for cataracts. This study identifies nerve growth factor (NGF) as a key target of RORα in preventing lens cell damage.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Cataracts are a leading cause of global blindness, primarily driven by oxidative damage and lens epithelial cell apoptosis.
  • Retinoic acid Receptor-related orphan receptor α (RORα), a crucial transcription factor, is known to protect against oxidative stress and apoptosis.
  • Reduced RORα levels are observed in cataractous lenses, but its direct role in cataractogenesis remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the protective role of RORα against selenite-induced cataract formation.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which RORα exerts its protective effects in lens epithelial cells.
  • To identify potential therapeutic targets for nonsurgical cataract intervention.

Main Methods:

  • Establishment of rat models for selenite-induced cataracts and in vitro studies using human lens epithelial cells (SRA01-04) treated with selenite.
  • Administration of RORα agonist SR1078 and RORα overexpression to assess protective effects.
  • Analysis of oxidative stress markers, apoptosis, mitochondrial function, and key signaling pathways (PGC-1α, Nrf2-HO-1, NGF).

Main Results:

  • Selenite-induced cataracts showed downregulation of RORα in rat lenses.
  • SR1078 treatment significantly reduced lens opacity, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction, while promoting PGC-1α and Nrf2-HO-1 pathways.
  • RORα overexpression protected lens epithelial cells, upregulating NGF expression; however, NGF knockdown led to recurrent damage, indicating its critical role downstream of RORα.

Conclusions:

  • RORα activation demonstrates significant protective effects against selenite-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in lens epithelial cells.
  • Nerve growth factor (NGF) is identified as a novel transcriptional target of RORα, crucial for preventing mitochondrial dysfunction and cataractogenesis.
  • RORα activation holds translational potential as a promising nonsurgical therapeutic strategy for cataract intervention.
Keywords:
RORαcataractcell apoptosismitochondrial dysfunctionoxidative stress

More Related Videos

High-throughput Analysis of Mammalian Olfactory Receptors: Measurement of Receptor Activation via Luciferase Activity12:02

High-throughput Analysis of Mammalian Olfactory Receptors: Measurement of Receptor Activation via Luciferase Activity

Published on: June 2, 2014

13.0K
Author Spotlight: Enhancing Visual Outcomes in Cataract Surgery: A Novel Technique to Prevent Posterior Capsular Opacification Through IOL Rotation04:59

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Visual Outcomes in Cataract Surgery: A Novel Technique to Prevent Posterior Capsular Opacification Through IOL Rotation

Published on: July 7, 2023

3.0K

Related Concept Videos

Internal Receptors01:31

Internal Receptors

Many cellular signals are hydrophilic and therefore cannot pass through the plasma membrane. However, small or hydrophobic signaling molecules can cross the hydrophobic core of the plasma membrane and bind to internal, or intracellular, receptors that reside within the cell. Many mammalian steroid hormones use this mechanism of cell signaling, as does nitric oxide (NO) gas.
74.6K
Enzyme-linked Receptors01:00

Enzyme-linked Receptors

Enzyme-linked receptors are proteins that act as both receptor and enzyme, activating multiple intracellular signals. This is a large group of receptors that include the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family. Many growth factors and hormones bind to and activate the RTKs.
Neurotrophin (NT) receptors are a family of RTKs, including trkA, trkB, and trkC (tropomyosin-related kinase) receptors. TrkA is specific for nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin-6, and neurotrophin-7. TrkB binds...
86.5K
Insulin: The Receptor and Signaling Pathways01:28

Insulin: The Receptor and Signaling Pathways

Insulin action is mediated through a receptor tyrosine kinase, akin to the IGF-1 receptor. The number of receptors per cell varies significantly, from 40 on erythrocytes to 300,000 on adipocytes and hepatocytes. The insulin receptor consists of linked α/β subunit dimers, forming a heterotetramer glycoprotein with two extracellular α subunits and two β subunits spanning the membrane. The α subunits inhibit the inherent tyrosine kinase activity of the β subunits, but...
3.0K
Receptor-mediated Endocytosis01:39

Receptor-mediated Endocytosis

Overview
110.8K
G-protein Coupled Receptors01:21

G-protein Coupled Receptors

G-protein coupled receptors are ligand binding receptors that indirectly affect changes in the cell. The actual receptor is a single polypeptide that transverses the cell membrane seven times creating intracellular and extracellular loops. The extracellular loops create a ligand specific pocket which binds to neurotransmitters or hormones. The intracellular loops holds onto the G-protein.
131.9K
Types of Receptors: Internal Receptors01:07

Types of Receptors: Internal Receptors

Many cellular signals are hydrophilic and cannot pass through the plasma membrane. However, small or hydrophobic signaling molecules can cross the hydrophobic core of the plasma membrane and bind intracellular receptors that reside within the cell cytoplasm or nucleus. Many mammalian steroid hormones and nitric oxide (NO) gas use this cell signaling mechanism.
Similar to membrane-bound receptors, the binding of a ligand to the intracellular receptor of causes a conformational change in the...
32.6K