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Review
. 2018;14(6):82.
doi: 10.1007/s11306-018-1377-1. Epub 2018 Jun 5.

Citrate usage in the leading causes of blindness: new possibilities for the old metabolite

Marta Michalczuk  1 , Beata Urban  2 , Tadeusz Porowski  3 , Anna Wasilewska  3 , Alina Bakunowicz-Łazarczyk  2
Affiliations
Review

Citrate usage in the leading causes of blindness: new possibilities for the old metabolite

Marta Michalczuk et al. Metabolomics. 2018.

Abstract

Introduction: Citrate is an old metabolite which is best known for the role in the Krebs cycle. Citrate is widely used in many branches of medicine. In ophthalmology citrate is considered as a therapeutic agent and an useful diagnostic tool-biomarker.

Objectives: To summarize the published literature on citrate usage in the leading causes of blindness and highlight the new possibilities for this old metabolite.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search of the scientific literature about citrate usage in ophthalmology up to January 2018. The reference lists of identified articles were searched for providing in-depth information.

Results: This systematic review included 30 articles. The role of citrate in the leading causes of blindness is presented.

Conclusions: Citrate might help inhibit cataract progression, in case of questions confirm glaucoma diagnosis or improve cornea repair treatment as adjuvant agent (therapy of ulcerating cornea after alkali injury, crosslinking procedure). However, the knowledge about possible citrate usage in ophthalmology is not widely known. Promoting recent scientific knowledge about citrate usage in ophthalmology may not only benefit of medical improvement but may also limit economic costs caused by leading causes of blindness. Further studies on citrate usage in ophthalmology should continuously be the field of scientific interest.

Keywords: Biomarker; Citrate; Ophthalmology; Treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Compliance with ethical standardsAll authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The presentation of AGEs formation mechanism and its role in cataract progression. The emergence of AGEs is the result of ageing. AGEs induce irreversible changes in structural proteins of the lens. Changes in structural proteins of the lens lead to protein aggregation and formation of high molecular weight aggregates. Moreover, also the role of structural proteins—crystallins as protective agents is changed (altered prevention of protein aggregates to fibre cell membranes binding). Protein aggregates are binded to fibre cell membranes. The membrane binding of protein aggregates cause the occlusion of membrane pores and afterwards the creation of a permeability barrier. The permeability barrier prevents a normal rate of glutathione transport into the centre of the lens. Glutathione as the antioxidant prevents formation of AGEs. Thereby, the altered glutathione transport is resulting in further AGEs formation
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The presentation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) activities inhibited by citrate usage. Citrate inhibits the respiratory burst, the enzyme release, the phagocytosis, the locomotion of PMNs and the adherence of PMNs to nylon fiber columns
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The presentation of the possible metabolomic glaucoma biomarkers. The metabolic pathways that involve citrate, palmitoylcarnitine, sphingolipids, vitamin D-related compounds, and steroid precursors were found in blood plasma. The high glutamine–glutamate (Glx)/creatine (Cr) ratio was observed in the vitreous and lateral geniculate body. The lower N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/Cr and choline (Cho)/Cr ratio was found in the occipital cortex and striate areas
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