Impaired Homeostasis and Phenotypic Abnormalities in Prdx6à/Àmice Lens Epithelial Cells by Reactive Oxygen Species: Increased Expression and Activation of Tgfb
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Cell Death and Differentiation (2005) 12, 734–750 & 2005 Nature Publishing Group All rights reserved 1350-9047/05 $30.00 www.nature.com/cdd Impaired homeostasis and phenotypic abnormalities in Prdx6À/Àmice lens epithelial cells by reactive oxygen species: increased expression and activation of TGFb N Fatma1, E Kubo2, P Sharma1, DR Beier3 and DP Singh*,1 Introduction 1 Department of Ophthalmology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and organic free radicals are Omaha, NE 68198, USA essential metabolic intermediates with important regulatory 2 Department of Ophthalmology, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan functions. Overproduction of these reactive metabolites or 3 Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, ROS is implicated in the etiology of a host of degenerative Boston, MA, USA diseases,1 including age-related cataractogenesis. Of the * Corresponding author: DP Singh, Department Ophthalmology, University of various types of oxidative damage, apoptosis, loss of homeo- Nebraska Medical Center, 985540 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5840, USA. Tel: þ 1 402 559 8805; Fax: þ 1 402 559 8808; stasis, and abnormal phenotypic changes are major con- E-mail: [email protected]. tributors to injury. Thus, strict regulation of ROS is vital to maintain cellular integrity and homeostasis. Antioxidants play Received 20.8.04; revised 28.12.04; accepted 14.1.05; published online 01.4.05 a major role in this regard by limiting the overproduction of Edited by S Roy radicals generated by the metabolism or cells under environ- mental stress. The major defense enzymes reported to date are superoxide dismutase (SOD), which converts superoxide radicals to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), catalase (CAT), Abstract selenium (SE)-dependent glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), PRDX6, a member of the peroxiredoxins (PRDXs) family, is a glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and the recently defined 2,3 key player in the removal of reactive oxygen species (ROS). rapidly growing family of peroxiredoxins (PRDXs) . These Using targeted inactivation of the Prdx6 gene, we present enzymes reduce peroxides to the corresponding alcohol or water.4–8 The PRDX family displays special features, com- evidence that the corresponding protein offsets the deleter- pared with other existing peroxidases. Specifically, when ious effects of ROS on lens epithelial cells (LECs) and reducing H2O2, PRDX enzymes themselves are oxidized, regulates gene expression by limiting its levels. PRDX6- therefore acting both as peroxidase and co-substrate.9 depleted LECs displayed phenotypic alterations and elevated Recent studies have shown that the active site cysteine of a-smooth muscle actin and big-h3 expression (markers for PRDXs is selectively oxidized to cysteine sulfinic acid, leading cataractogenesis), indistinguishable from transforming to inactivation of peroxidase activity, and the sulfinic form of growth factor b (TGFb)-induced changes. Biochemical assays PRDX is rapidly reduced to the catalytically active thiol disclosed enhanced levels of ROS, as well as high expression form.10,11 It appears that the cell’s ability to reduce protein and activation of TGFb1inPrdx6À/À LECs. A CAT assay sulfinic acid serves as a mechanism to repair damaged revealed transcriptional repression of lens epithelium-derived proteins or represents a new type of cyclic modification growth factor (LEDGF), HSP27, and aB-crystallin promoter regulating the functions of various proteins. PRDXs, thiol-containing peroxidases, are conserved from activities in these cells. A gel mobility shift assay demon- bacteria to mammals.10,12 There are six subgroups of PRDX strated the attenuation of LEDGF binding to heat shock or enzymes (PRDX1–6) in mammals.12–14 These enzymes use stress response elements present in these genes. A supply of redox-active cysteines to reduce peroxides, and are divided À/À PRDX6 toPrdx6 LECs reversed these changes. Based on into two categories, 1-Cys and 2-Cys, based on the number of the above data, we propose a rheostat role for PRDX6 in cysteinyl residues directly involved in catalysis3. The per- regulating gene expression by controlling the ROS level to oxidase reaction is composed of two steps centered around a maintain cellular homeostasis. redox-active cysteine designated ‘peroxidatic cysteine’.15,16 Cell Death and Differentiation (2005) 12, 734–750. The 1-Cys PRDX contains only the peroxidatic cysteine, and 16 doi:10.1038/sj.cdd.4401597 not a resolving cysteine. Based on the presence of one Published online 1 April 2005 conserved redox-active cysteine in the NH2 terminus of PRDX6 (C-47), previously known as antioxidant protein 2 2,3,17–20 Keywords: reactive oxygen species; phenotypic changes; (AOP2) in contrast to two conserved cysteine residues TGFb; LEDGF; apoptosis; oxidative stress; PRDX6; AOP2 in the rest of the PRDX family, the Mouse Genomic Nomenclature Committee (MGNC) and Human Gene No- Abbreviations: AOP2, antioxidant protein 2; LEDGF, lens menclature Committee (HGNC) put this molecule under epithelium-derived growth factor; PRDX, peroxiredoxin; ROS, subgroup 6, now known as PRDX6.12 reactive oxygen species; SDS-PAGE, sodium dodecyl H2O2, a source of oxidative stress, has gained attention sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; TGFb, transforming recently due to its role as a cellular signaling factor for various growth factor b; TIE, transforming growth factor b inhibitory cytokines and growth factors, including platelet-derived element growth factor (PDGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), Regulatory function of Peroxiredoxin 6 N Fatma et al 735 endothelial-derived growth factor (EGF), tumor necrosis cataractogenesis. PRDX6 abolishes ROS-mediated deleter- factor a (TNF-a), and transforming growth factor b (TGFb). ious effects in LECs, and may therefore have signi- The generation of ROS by these molecules is associated with ficant potential to postpone age-associated degenerative the activation or deactivation and modulation of expression of disorders. several anti-death transcription factors, including lens epi- thelium-derived growth factor (LEDGF).21,22 LEDGF is a survival factor that acts as a transcriptional factor17,23–25 by activating heat shock element (HSE; nGAAn) and a stress- Results related element (STRE; T/AGGGGA/T).17,25,26 Cells over- expressing LEDGF contain elevated levels of PRDX6 protein PRDX6 is highly expressed in murine ocular and mRNA, and survive longer under oxidative and heat lenses, and Prdx6À/À mice lenses display higher stress conditions.17 susceptibility to oxidative stress and abnormal Moreover, earlier studies have demonstrated that TGFb migration of LECs plays a regulatory role in gene transcription, and some genes We reported earlier that PRDX6 is present in ocular lens and comprise TGFb inhibitory elements (TIE).27,28 Our experi- removes intra- and extracellular H O .17 According to a recent ments establish the presence of TIE in the LEDGF promo- 2 2 classification, the PRDX family is comprised of six members ter.29 TGFb inhibits the gene transcription of LEDGF.29 TGFb (PRDX1–6). We initially examined all the members of the is present in ocular media, and various levels of activity have PRDX family in mice lens. PRDX5 and PRDX6 were been reported in the aqueous and vitreous forms in human expressed significantly. Real-time PCR data revealed higher and other species.30–33 Interestingly, an increased level of levels of PRDX6 (Figure 1A). This finding indicates that the H O in aqueous media is reported.34 However, further 2 2 expression of PRDXs may be tissue- or organ-specific. The investigation is required to understand the diverse biological function of PRDX6 appears pivotal, at least in lens, because effects of TGFb and ROS in the eye lens system. TGFb other PRDXs could not inhibit the changes of Prdx6À/À LECs. increases the ROS intracellular content in different cell types, To evaluate the potential roles of PRDX6 in reducing oxidative and some of its action may be mediated by oxidative stress. stress, acting as antioxidant defense, and in signaling, we Recent reports have demonstrated that TGFb increases ROS used Prdx6 knockout mice. Interestingly, lenses from PRDX6- by rapid downregulation of antioxidant genes.35–38 Evidence depleted mice exhibited significant susceptibility to oxidative shows that overexpression of PRDX6 reduces ROS gener- stress and opacity in the superficial cortex following exposure ated in response to growth factors.39,40 To determine the to H O (200 mM) for 44 h (Figure 1B). In addition, the potential role of PRDX6 in reducing oxidative stress and 2 2 histological sections of lenses isolated from Prdx6À/À mice acting as an antioxidant defense in vitro and in vivo, we utilized revealed abnormal cellular localization in the bow region and Prdx6 knockout mice. Cells derived from Prdx6 knockout mice thickening of capsule. Moreover, some epithelial cells were more susceptible to cellular damage, and showed migrated to the region posterior to the equator (Figure 1C, phenotypic changes. Our findings are in agreement with left panel). These findings signify the physiological importance several reports demonstrating the activation of TGFb as a of PRDX6 in lens. Since it is difficult to determine all the result of ROS elevation. 31,32,41,42 The most striking morpho- biochemical and molecular biological parameters in whole logical differences between Prdx6 þ / þ cells and Prdx6À/À lenses, we generated Prdx6À/À LEC lines to specifically cells are accounted for by expression pattern changes identify the roles of PRDX6. Notably, lenses/LECs isolated due to a single gene, Prdx6. The physiological conse- from Prdx6 þ / þ (heterozygous) mice were indistinguishable quences of Prdx6 knockout are notable. LEDGF and from those of wild-type animals. PRDX6 protein expression associated genes are suppressed, indicating that changes was comparable in lenses/LECs of both groups and a similar in lens epithelial cells (LECs) may be associated to dysfunc- finding has been reported by other groups.43 Accordingly, we tion of LEDGF. utilized wild-type mice and homozygous lenses/LECs In the present study, we examine the effects of PRDX6 on throughout the study.