Although, LEDGF is present in the nucleus of most unstressed cells, oxidative- and heat-stress elevate LEDGF levels. Unstressed cells transfected to over-expressing LEDGF also up-regulated Hsp27, alphaB-crystallin, and AOP2, and these cells acquired a strong resistance against environmental stresses. Stress-induced elevation of LEDGF may be a basic mechanism by which cells increase their tolerance to environmental stress. In lens epithelial cells (LECs) and cos7 cells, stress elevates not only LEDGF but also chaperones and other stress-related proteins (Hsp27, alphaB-crystallin and AOP2). We hypothesized that LEDGF bound to and up-regulated stress-related genes. We have found considerable evidence in support of this hypothesis that LEDGF bound to the stress response elements (STRE; consensus sequence A/TGGGGA/T) and the heat shock element (HSE; consensus sequence nGAAn) to up-regulate stress-related genes. (See Appendices 8, 9). Among the up-regulated stress-related genes, Hsp27, alphaB-crystallin, and AOP2 are most relevant to cataractogenesis. Hsp27 and alphaB-crystallin, both chaperone proteins, are essential for refolding denatured proteins. AOP2, a relatively new antioxidant protein, protects cells from oxidative stress. To increase our understanding of how LECs resist stress, we have focused our study on the up-regulation of stress-related genes by LEDGF. I have selected the genes for Hsp27, alphaB-crystallin and AOP2 and will study the interaction between their promoter elements and LEDGF and heat shock transcriptional factor1 (HSF1). In addition, I will study the functional role of AOP2 and its relationship to LEDGF in the context of age related cataract. This application contains three Specific Aims; 1) To characterize and define the DNA-binding domains of LEDGF, their binding affinity, functional interaction(s) and transactivation potential to two distinct regulatory elements (HSE and STRE) of the Hsp27 and AOP2 gene promoter. 2) To understand the functional significance of the interactions between HSE-HSF1 and HSE-LEDGF in the normal (unstressed) cells and in the stress-activation of the Hsp27, alphaB-crystallin and AOP2 genes. 3) To determine transcriptional regulation of AOP2 by LEDGF and the molecular basis of antioxidant potency of AOP2 under oxidative stress. This application will provide novel insights into the mechanisms by which stress-response genes are regulated by LEDGF. It will also expand our understanding of roles of these genes and LEDGF in survival of cells under stress. In particular, our studies in LECs may increase our understanding of age-related cataractogenesis and means of slowing this blinding degenerative process.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01EY013394-02S1
Application #
6753386
Study Section
Visual Sciences A Study Section (VISA)
Program Officer
Liberman, Ellen S
Project Start
2002-03-01
Project End
2006-02-28
Budget Start
2003-03-01
Budget End
2004-02-29
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$8,379
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Department
Ophthalmology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
168559177
City
Omaha
State
NE
Country
United States
Zip Code
68198
Chhunchha, Bhavana; Fatma, Nigar; Kubo, Eri et al. (2014) Aberrant sumoylation signaling evoked by reactive oxygen species impairs protective function of Prdx6 by destabilization and repression of its transcription. FEBS J 281:3357-81
Kubo, Eri; Hasanova, Nailia; Sasaki, Hiroshi et al. (2013) Dynamic and differential regulation in the microRNA expression in the developing and mature cataractous rat lens. J Cell Mol Med 17:1146-59
Chhunchha, Bhavana; Fatma, Nigar; Kubo, Eri et al. (2013) Curcumin abates hypoxia-induced oxidative stress based-ER stress-mediated cell death in mouse hippocampal cells (HT22) by controlling Prdx6 and NF-ýýB regulation. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 304:C636-55
Kubo, Eri; Hasanova, Nailia; Fatma, Nigar et al. (2013) Elevated tropomyosin expression is associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition of lens epithelial cells. J Cell Mol Med 17:212-21
Bhargavan, Biju; Chhunchha, Bhavana; Fatma, Nigar et al. (2013) Epigenetic repression of LEDGF during UVB exposure by recruitment of SUV39H1 and HDAC1 to the Sp1-responsive elements within LEDGF promoter CpG island. Epigenetics 8:268-80
Bhargavan, B; Fatma, N; Chhunchha, B et al. (2012) LEDGF gene silencing impairs the tumorigenicity of prostate cancer DU145 cells by abating the expression of Hsp27 and activation of the Akt/ERK signaling pathway. Cell Death Dis 3:e316
Singh, Dhirendra P; Bhargavan, Biju; Chhunchha, Bhavana et al. (2012) Transcriptional protein Sp1 regulates LEDGF transcription by directly interacting with its cis-elements in GC-rich region of TATA-less gene promoter. PLoS One 7:e37012
Ishihara, Keiichi; Fatma, Nigar; Bhargavan, Biju et al. (2012) Lens epithelium-derived growth factor deSumoylation by Sumo-specific protease-1 regulates its transcriptional activation of small heat shock protein and the cellular response. FEBS J 279:3048-70
Fatma, Nigar; Singh, Prerna; Chhunchha, Bhavana et al. (2011) Deficiency of Prdx6 in lens epithelial cells induces ER stress response-mediated impaired homeostasis and apoptosis. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 301:C954-67
Shah, Ankit; Singh, Dhirendra P; Buch, Shilpa et al. (2011) HIV-1 envelope protein gp120 up regulates CCL5 production in astrocytes which can be circumvented by inhibitors of NF-?B pathway. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 414:112-7

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