BUFFALO, NY- November 13, 2024 – A new #research paper was #published in Aging (listed by MEDLINE/PubMed as "Aging (Albany NY)" and "Aging-US" by Web of Science), on October 25, 2024, Volume 16, Issue 20, titled, ”Canonical ligand-dependent and non-canonical ligand-independent EphA2 signaling in the eye lens of wild-type, knockout, and aging mice.“

Researchers from the School of Optometry and Vision Science Program at Indiana University have uncovered important new insights into how the aging affects the eye lens and contributes to cataract formation, a condition impacting millions worldwide. This study focuses on the EphA2 protein, traditionally associated with cancer, which researchers have now identified as essential for maintaining the lens’s clarity and function as it ages.

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide, primarily affecting older adults, yet the precise biological mechanisms behind their formation remain unclear. This research sheds light on the role of the EphA2 protein receptor in the eye lens, revealing that it operates through two distinct signaling pathways: a canonical (ligand-dependent) and a non-canonical (ligand-independent) pathway. By studying various groups of mice, including those lacking the EphA2 protein receptor and its ligand partner ephrin-A5, scientists observed how these signaling pathways change with age, affecting the organization and maturation of lens cells.

Researchers Jenna L. Horner, Michael P. Vu, Jackson T. Clark, Isaiah J. Innis, and Catherine Cheng observed that EphA2’s canonical signaling, which organizes lens cells, remains stable in aging lens tissue, particularly in epithelial cells. They found that the non-canonical signaling pathway—previously associated primarily with aggressive cancer cells—increases with age in normal lens cells. This increase suggests that non-canonical signaling plays a crucial role in helping lens fiber cells mature and maintain their structure over time.

“Here, we report that canonical ligand-mediated EphA2 activation is restricted to the lens epithelial cells and show the first evidence of physiological non-canonical EphA2 activity in a normal tissue.”

This understanding could lead to new therapies targeting EphA2 to delay or prevent cataracts.

In conclusion, this study represents a significant advance in understanding the cellular mechanisms behind lens aging and cataract development, potentially paving the way for new non-surgical cataract treatments.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206144

Corresponding author - Catherine Cheng - [email protected]

Video short - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ScKLgOxQvA

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Keywords - aging, fiber cells, epithelial cells, Y588, Y589, S897, phosphorylation, maturation, ephrin

About Aging-US

The mission of the journal is to understand the mechanisms surrounding aging and age-related diseases, including cancer as the main cause of death in the modern aged population.

The journal aims to promote 1) treatment of age-related diseases by slowing down aging, 2) validation of anti-aging drugs by treating age-related diseases, and 3) prevention of cancer by inhibiting aging. (Cancer and COVID-19 are age-related diseases.)

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