The Cytotoxicity of Truncated (Q368X) Myocilin in Trabecular Meshwork (TM) Cells.

Hur, Won Hee; Kee, Chang Won

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2003;44(2):502-507.
Published online February 1, 2003.

The Cytotoxicity of Truncated (Q368X) Myocilin in Trabecular Meshwork (TM) Cells.

Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center School of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University, Korea. cwkee@smc.samsung.co.kr

Truncated Myocilin의 섬유주 세포내 독성 효과

허원희 ( Won Hee Hur ) , 기창원 ( Chang Won Kee )

Abstract

PURPOSE
To investigate the cytotoxicities of wild type myocilin and trunctated (Q368X) myocilin in cultured human trabecular meshwork (TM) cells. METHODS: GFP tagged truncated myocilin and DsRED1 tagged wild type myocilin were expressed in TM cells using adenoviral vectors and observed colocalization by confocal microscope. Cytopathic effects in the cells were examined by light microscope and WST-1 cell proliferation assay. RESULTS: Colocalization of wild type and truncated myocilin was observed in cells co-expressing the proteins. Truncated myocilin was found to be toxic to cells, leading to deformed cellular morphology and diminished cell proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: The intracellular accumulation of truncated myocilin exhibited cytotoxicity in trabecular meshwork cells, and eventually resulted in diminished number and dysfunction of trabecular meshwork cells, which might be involved in the pathogenesis of glaucoma.

Key Words: Adenoviral vector;Cytotoxicity;Myocilin;Trabecular meshwork cell