June 2013
Volume 54, Issue 15
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   June 2013
Decline in DJ-1 Leads to Decreased Nuclear Translocation of Nrf2 and Results in p53-mediated Apoptosis of Human Corneal Endothelial Cells
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Cailing Liu
    Schepens/Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
  • Yuming Chen
    Schepens/Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
  • Ula Jurkunas
    Schepens/Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships Cailing Liu, None; Yuming Chen, None; Ula Jurkunas, 61/482,769 (P), Altheos (C)
  • Footnotes
    Support None
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science June 2013, Vol.54, 2196. doi:
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation

      Cailing Liu, Yuming Chen, Ula Jurkunas; Decline in DJ-1 Leads to Decreased Nuclear Translocation of Nrf2 and Results in p53-mediated Apoptosis of Human Corneal Endothelial Cells. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2013;54(15):2196.

      Download citation file:


      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

      ×
  • Supplements
Abstract

Purpose: Dowregulation of DJ-1 and decreased nuclear localization of nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (Nrf2) has been detected in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy endothelium. DJ-1 has been reported to stabilize Nrf2, which binds to antioxidant response element in the nucleus to protect cells from apoptosis. In this study, we investigated the effect of DJ-1 downregulation on Nrf2 nuclear translocation, Nrf2-associated protein regulation, and corneal endothelial cell susceptibility to oxidative stress.

Methods: An immortalized normal human corneal endothelial cell line (HCECi) was transfected with 50 nM of siRNA specific to the human DJ-1 gene using Lipofectamine. Scrambled siRNA was used as control. Nrf2 and p53 levels in nuclear and cytosolic extracts were evaluated by western blotting. Nrf2-associated proteins such as Cul3 and Keap1 were detected by immunoprecipitation (IP) with anti-Nrf2 antibody, followed by western blotting with target antibodies. Oxidative stress was induced by exposing HCECi cells to a UVA broadband lamp with the fluence of 10 J/cm2. Cell pellets were harvested for western blotting with anti-caspase 3 and p53 antibodies, while supernatants were collected for a cell viability assay.

Results: Despite similar levels of cytoplasmic Nrf2, nuclear Nrf2 protein levels decreased by 2.2-fold (p=0.04) in DJ-1 siRNA-treated HCECi cells as compared to scrambled siRNA-treated cells. IP studies detected Nrf2 association with Cul3 and Keap1 with an increase in Cul3-Nrf2 complex in DJ-1 siRNA-treated cells relative to controls. UVA irradiation led to an 8.5% increase in cell death in DJ-1 siRNA-treated cells as compared to controls. Moreover, downregulation of DJ-1 led to a 16.4% increase in active caspase 3 levels. This effect was augmented by UVA treatment, which led to a 28.6% increase in caspase 3 as compared to controls. Downregulation of DJ-1 resulted in an increase in cytoplasmic p53 levels, while UVA irradiation resulted in a 17.7% increase in total p53 levels in DJ-1 siRNA treated cells as compared to controls.

Conclusions: Downregulation of DJ-1 impairs nuclear translocation of Nrf2 potentially by targeting Nrf2 for degradation through Cul3 and Keap1 pathways. Decline in DJ-1 levels leads to heightened cell susceptibility to UVA-induced apoptosis and activates p53-dependent pathway in corneal endothelium.

Keywords: 481 cornea: endothelium • 634 oxidation/oxidative or free radical damage • 739 transcription factors  
×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×