Expression of SIRT1 and P53 in Rat Lens Epithelial cells in Experimentally Induced DM.

PURPOSE: To determine the etiopathogenesis of diabetic cataract by studying changes in relative expressions of silent information regulator protein-1 (SIRT1) and P53 in rat lens epithelial cells (LECs) in experimentally induced diabetes mellitus (DM).

METHODS: Six-week-old male SD rats (n = 120) were randomly divided into experimental (n = 80 rats) and control (n = 40 rats) groups. DM was induced in the experimental group (diabetic model) by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 60 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ). Control group rats were injected similarly with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Four and eight weeks after successful induction of DM, relative expressions of SIRT1 and P53 in LECs were analyzed using quantitative real-time (qRT) fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot analysis.

RESULTS: Expression of both SIRT1 and P53 was observed in LECs of control and experimental group rats at 4 and 8 weeks but was significantly greater in experimental compared with control group rats (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Expression of both SIRT1 and P53 increases in the early stages of diabetic cataract formation, indicating that they play potentially important roles in the pathogenesis of diabetic cataract.