ERalpha increases expression and interacts with TERT in cataractous canine lens epithelial cells.

Purpose: Estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) expression has previously been evaluated in lens epithelial cells (LEC). However, its function in the lens has not been determined. One potential function may be its interaction with the catalytic subunit of telomerase (TERT), which is present in normal LEC and higher in LEC that have undergone epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT).

Expression and characterization of the catalytic subunit of telomerase in normal and cataractous canine lens epithelial cells.

Purpose: To determine whether the catalytic subunit of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is regionally distributed in canine lens epithelial cells (LEC), compare TERT and the RNA subunit of telomerase (TR) mRNA expression and TERT protein expression in normal and cataractous LEC, and to evaluate whether telomerase activity is present in the cytoplasm and nucleus from normal LEC. Finally, the expression of p23 and heat shock protein 90 (hsp90), coactivators of TERT in neoplastic cells, were evaluated in normal and cataractous LEC.

Methods: TERT protein was detected by imunohistochemical staining and western immunoblotting in normal and cataractous LEC.