Small RNA tRF-31 Changes in Patients With Age-Related Cataract

The goal of this observational study is to evaluate the expression characteristics and clinical relevance of the tRF-31/HIPK2 signaling axis in adults over 18 years old with age-related cataract (ARC). The main questions it aims to answer are: Is there a correlation between the relative expression levels of tRF-31 and its target gene HIPK2 in the anterior lens capsule and the clinical severity (Emery-Little grading system) of age-related cataracts? Does oxidative stress in the anterior segment microenvironment have a potential bystander effect on the state of the corneal endothelium? Participants will:Undergo routine preoperative ophthalmologic examinations, including visual acuity tests, slit-lamp photography, and corneal endothelial cell counting. Undergo standard cataract surgery (phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens implantation) as part of their regular medical care. Allow researchers to collect and analyze their anterior lens capsule tissue, which is routinely removed and typically discarded as medical waste during the standard continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC) step of the surgery.

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Key information

Conditions

Cataract Eye Diseases Lens Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine

Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Yueyang Zhong

CONTACT

[email protected]

+86- 18868125901

Who can participate

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Patients older than 18 years. Clinically diagnosed with age-related cataract (ARC) and have clear surgical indications for routine phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. Scheduled to undergo cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation. Completed routine preoperative corneal endothelial specular microscopy, providing objective data including cell density, coefficient of variation of cell area, and the proportion of hexagonal cells. Provided signed written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

History of ocular trauma, glaucoma, episodes of active uveitis, or previous intraocular surgery. Presence of severe systemic diseases rendering the patient unsuitable for surgery. Poor patient compliance or coexisting psychiatric disorders. Severe systemic metabolic syndromes (e.g., diabetes). Diagnosis of high myopia. Current participation in other clinical trials or likelihood of being lost to follow-up.

Treatment and study plan

Biospecimen collection (Anterior lens capsule)

Procedure

This is an observational study without investigational interventions. Participants will undergo standard-of-care phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens implantation for age-related cataract. During the routine continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC) step of the surgery, the central anterior lens capsule, which is typically discarded as medical waste, will be collected for subsequent molecular analysis. This tissue collection relies entirely on the standard surgical procedure and does not alter the patient's routine clinical treatment pathway in any way.

Primary outcomes

Correlation between relative expression of tRF-31 and cataract nuclear hardness (Emery-Little grading system)

Time frame: Baseline (Preoperative, up to 1 month prior to surgery)

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Yueyang Zhong

CONTACT

[email protected]

+86+ 18868125901

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Biphasic Dynamics of the tRNA-derived Small RNA tRF-31 Set the Lens Oxidative Survival Threshold by Restraining HIPK2-mediated Dual-track Lethality in Age-related Cataract

Important dates

Study start: 2026
Primary completion: 2026
Study completion: 2026
First posted: Jun 29, 2026
Registry last updated: Jun 29, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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