SENILE CATARACT-RELATED ACCUMULATION OF LEWIS(X) GLYCOLIPID IN HUMAN LENS

A glycosphingolipid that reacted positively to anti-stage-specific emb ryonic antigen-1 (SSEA-1) anti-serum accumulated in human lens in asso ciation with aging and senile cataract formation. Since this anti-seru m recognizes Lewis(x) (Le(x)) structure, Gal-beta-1-4(Fuc-alpha-1-3)Gl cNAc-, which is a typical tumor-associated and differentiation-related saccharide chain, the lens glycolipid was predicted to be a Le(x) ant igen. The glycolipid purified from cataractous lens tissues was indeed a Le(x) glycolipid, -alpha-1-3)GlcNAc-beta-1-3Gal-beta-1-4Glc-beta-1- 1 ceramide. Enhanced expression of the Le(x) glycolipid may affect the organization of lens plasma membranes through Le(x)-Le(x) interaction s, as suggested for compaction in mouse preimplantation embryos and em bryonic teratocarcinomas, resulting in lens opacification, namely cata ract.