Bmi1 and its Potential Role in Lens Regeneration, Poster 19

Cataracts are the most common cause of blindness in the world, and occur when the visual axis in the lens undergoes opacification (VAO). Currently, treatment for cataracts is surgical removal of the lens through an incision,... [ view full abstract ]

Cataracts are the most common cause of blindness in the world, and occur when the visual axis in the lens undergoes opacification (VAO). Currently, treatment for cataracts is surgical removal of the lens through an incision, removing the lens, and then implanting an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). However, post-surgical complications, such as secondary cataracts, occur frequently. The potential application of stem cells in this context could allow for a new treatment strategy: removal of the damaged lens, lens epithelial/stem progenitor cells (LECs) implantation, and lens regeneration. Bmi1, or B cell-specific Moloney murine leukemia virus integration site 1, was found to be crucial for LEC renewal, and Bmi1 knockdown lead to a reduction in LEC proliferation. Previously studied in cancer models, Bmi1 expression is correlated with the prevention of damage-induced cell death, and knockdown leads to rapid aging and age-related diseases. New research on Bmi1 expression in lenses has also shown that other stem cell markers are correlated to lens regeneration. In this study, we looked at the role Bmi1 plays in LEC differentiation and proliferation in mice, and analyzed the relationship between  Bmi1 and Aldose Reductase, which has been strongly studied in relation to cataracts and lens development. Preliminary research shed light on the unique relationship between Bmi1 and Aldose Reductase during lens development and regeneration.