SPARC AND CATARACTOGENESIS IN MICE

SPARC(酸性和富含半胱氨酸的分泌蛋白)缺失的小鼠都在很小的年龄就开始患上白内障，这表明SPARC基因对晶状体的功能和透明度至关重要。尽管白内障是世界范围内致盲的主要原因，但晶状体上皮细胞在调节白内障发生中的重要性尚不完全清楚。这项建议概述了两个特定的目标，试图了解SPARC在晶状体上皮细胞增殖和分化中的作用。晶状体来源于一种细胞类型(晶状体上皮)。晶状体上皮细胞增殖并分化为纤维细胞，构成晶状体的整个生命周期。这一过程受到环境信号的严格调控，对晶状体的正常生长至关重要。SPARC是一种分泌的原型基质细胞糖蛋白，具有抗黏附和抗增殖功能，可能是调节这一过程的关键因素。SPARC缺失的小鼠不仅为了解白内障的发生，也为了解SPARC本身的功能(S)提供了一个极好的机会。

SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine)- null mice all began to develop cataract at an early age indicates that the SPARC gene is critical to lens functions and transparency. Although cataract is the primary cause of blindness worldwide, the importance of lens epithelial cells in regulation of cataractogenesis is not fully understood. This proposal outlines 2 specific aims attempting to understand the role of SPARC in lens epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation. The lens is derived from one cell type (lens epithelium). Lens epithelial cells proliferate and differentiate into fiber cells that constitute the body of the lens throughout life. This process is regulated tightly by environmental cues and is critical for normal lens growth. SPARC, a secreted prototypic matricellular glycoprotein with counteradhesive and antiproliferative functions, might be a key factor in the regulation of this process. SPARC-null mice provide an excellent opportunity for understanding not only cataractogenesis but also the function(s) of SPARC itself.