Autophagic dysregulation in glaucomatous trabecular meshwork cells.
Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is a degenerative disease commonly associated with aging and elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Higher resistance to aqueous humor (AH) outflow through the trabecular meshwork (TM) generates the elevated IOP in POAG; unfortunately the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for elevated resistance are unknown. It is widely accepted, however, that differences between normal and POAG TM tissues are presumably a consequence of cellular dysfunction. Here, we investigated the autophagic function and response to chronic oxidative stress in TM cells isolated from glaucomatous and age-matched donor eyes. Glaucomatous TM cells showed elevated senescence-associated-beta-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) and cellular lipofuscin, together with decreased steady-state levels of LC3B-II, decreased levels of pRPS6K-T389 and reduced proteolysis of long-live proteins. Moreover, the glaucomatous cultures failed to activate autophagy when exposed to hyperoxic conditions. These results strongly suggest mTOR-dependent dysregulation of the autophagic pathway in cells isolated from the glaucomatous TM. Such dysregulated autophagic capacity can have a detrimental impact in outflow pathway tissue, i.e. mechanotransduction, and thus represent an important factor contributing to the progression of the disease.
Duke Scholars
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Related Subject Headings
- Trabecular Meshwork
- Proteolysis
- Oxidative Stress
- Intraocular Pressure
- Humans
- Glaucoma, Open-Angle
- Eye Proteins
- Cells, Cultured
- Autophagy
- 51 Physical sciences
Citation
Published In
DOI
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Trabecular Meshwork
- Proteolysis
- Oxidative Stress
- Intraocular Pressure
- Humans
- Glaucoma, Open-Angle
- Eye Proteins
- Cells, Cultured
- Autophagy
- 51 Physical sciences