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Title

Decline in DJ-1 and Decreased Nuclear Translocation of Nrf2 in Fuchs Endothelial Corneal DystrophyRoles of DJ-1 and Nrf2 in the Development of FECD

Authors

Maya S. Bitar, Marshall UniversityFollow
Cailing Liu
Alireza Ziaei
Yuming Chen
Thore Schmedt
Ula V. Jurkunas

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Fall 8-2012

Abstract

Purpose: This study sought to determine factors involved in nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) regulation and their response to oxidative stress in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) and normal corneal endothelial cells (CECs).

Methods: FECD corneal buttons were obtained from transplantations and normal human corneas from tissue banks. Oxidative stress was induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP). Protein and mRNA levels of Nrf2, DJ-1, p53, and Kelch-like ECH-associated protein1 (Keap1) were investigated using Western blotting and real-time PCR. Immunoprecipitation was used to detect levels of oxidized DJ-1 protein and Cullin 3- (Cul3)–regulated degradation of DJ-1 in immortalized FECD (FECDi) and normal CEC (HCECi) cell lines. Nrf2 subcellular localization was assessed by immunocytochemistry.

Results: Nrf2 protein stabilizer, DJ-1, decreased significantly in FECD CECs compared with normal, whereas Nrf2 protein repressor, Keap1, was unchanged at baseline but increased under oxidative stress. Under oxidative stress, normal CECs upregulated DJ-1 protein synthesis, whereas FECD CECs did not. DJ-1 decline correlated with increased DJ-1 oxidative modification and carbonylation in FECDi as compared with HCECi. Increased labeling of immunoprecipitated DJ-1 protein with anti-Cul3 antibody indicated enhanced DJ-1 degradation in FECDi as compared with HCECi. Following tBHP treatment, Nrf2 translocated from cytoplasm to nuclei in normal CECs, whereas Nrf2 nuclear localization was not observed in FECD.

Conclusions: Decreased levels of DJ-1 in FECD at baseline and under oxidative stress correlate with impaired Nrf2 nuclear translocation and heightened cell susceptibility to apoptosis. Targeting the DJ-1/Nrf2 axis could yield a mechanism to slow CEC degeneration in FECD.

Comments

Copyright © 2012 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. All rights reserved.

Recommended Citation

Bitar MS, Liu C, Ziaei A, Chen Y, Schmedt T, Jurkunas UV. Decline in DJ-1 and Decreased Nuclear Translocation of Nrf2 in Fuchs Endothelial Corneal DystrophyRoles of DJ-1 and Nrf2 in the Development of FECD. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 2012;53:5806-5813.