The lens faces physiological challenges not encountered by any other organ. It is an avascular organ, suspended by the zonular fibers between the aqueous and the vitreous humors. The major bulk of the lens is formed by fiber cells that lack organelles; they are covered by an anterior layer of epithelial cells which differentiate at the equator to form fiber cells. Because of the absence of a blood supply and the paucity of cellular organelles, the homeostasis of the lens is dependent on an internal circulation of water, ions, and small molecules and the normal function and regulation of various channels, pumps and exchangers.
The overall goal of this Research Topic is to bring together studies that elucidate the contributions of various channels, pumps and exchangers to:
• The maintenance of lens homeostasis and transparency,
• Transient changes in lens shape and refractive properties required for normal functions like accommodation,
• Pathological and age-related changes in the lens that contribute to permanent alterations in refractive properties or cataracts.
There have been a variety of recent advances in these areas. It is anticipated that the collection of contributions to this Research Topic will help to integrate our understanding of the interplay between these proteins and their activities that facilitate lens transport. This Research Topic will welcome original research articles and reviews. Within the collection, we hope to address many contemporary issues in lens biology and physiopathology, including:
• The roles of ion channels, pumps and transporters in the lens internal circulation
• Changes of lens transport that occur with aging
• Alterations of lens transport that contribute to cataracts (including mutations of lens proteins)
• Contributions of ion channels and their regulation to changes in water content, lens size, shape and refractive properties
• Mechanochemical regulation of lens transport at the macroscopic scale by tethering of the organ through the zonular fibers and at the molecular scale by protein-protein interactions
• Regulation of the channels, pumps and transporters by ions, metabolites, post-translational modification and/or chemicals
• Interactions of lens channels, pumps and transporters with each other and with other proteins
The lens faces physiological challenges not encountered by any other organ. It is an avascular organ, suspended by the zonular fibers between the aqueous and the vitreous humors. The major bulk of the lens is formed by fiber cells that lack organelles; they are covered by an anterior layer of epithelial cells which differentiate at the equator to form fiber cells. Because of the absence of a blood supply and the paucity of cellular organelles, the homeostasis of the lens is dependent on an internal circulation of water, ions, and small molecules and the normal function and regulation of various channels, pumps and exchangers.
The overall goal of this Research Topic is to bring together studies that elucidate the contributions of various channels, pumps and exchangers to:
• The maintenance of lens homeostasis and transparency,
• Transient changes in lens shape and refractive properties required for normal functions like accommodation,
• Pathological and age-related changes in the lens that contribute to permanent alterations in refractive properties or cataracts.
There have been a variety of recent advances in these areas. It is anticipated that the collection of contributions to this Research Topic will help to integrate our understanding of the interplay between these proteins and their activities that facilitate lens transport. This Research Topic will welcome original research articles and reviews. Within the collection, we hope to address many contemporary issues in lens biology and physiopathology, including:
• The roles of ion channels, pumps and transporters in the lens internal circulation
• Changes of lens transport that occur with aging
• Alterations of lens transport that contribute to cataracts (including mutations of lens proteins)
• Contributions of ion channels and their regulation to changes in water content, lens size, shape and refractive properties
• Mechanochemical regulation of lens transport at the macroscopic scale by tethering of the organ through the zonular fibers and at the molecular scale by protein-protein interactions
• Regulation of the channels, pumps and transporters by ions, metabolites, post-translational modification and/or chemicals
• Interactions of lens channels, pumps and transporters with each other and with other proteins
