Lens, an avascular organ, relies heavily on a network of transporting systems to deliver nutrients and other essential components to bulky lens fibers and excrete wastes. Differentiated nuclear fiber cells never turn over and oxidative stress is a major cause of age related cataracts. Connexin (Cx)-forming gap junction channels play an essential role for the metabolic homeostasis of the lens. Besides gap junctions, connexins form hemichannels, permitting transport of molecules between the cell and its extracellular environment. Connexins are truncated in nuclear fibers and this cleavage is increased with aging and oxidative stress. However, little is known regarding the functional importance and regulation of hemichannels formed by full-length and truncated connexins in lens fibers. Our preliminary studies indicate that hemichannels in cortical lens fibers are activated by mechanical loading, mediate uptake of glucose and glutathione, and exhibit self-protective roles againist oxidative damages. As such, we hypothesize that (1) The hemichannels formed by Cx50/Cx46 are activated by mechanical stimulation in cortical lens fibers and mediate uptake of nutrients/antioxidants, which are delivered to inner cortical and nuclear fibers via gap junctions to maintain cell homeostasis and viability; (2) Functional hemichannels formed by both full length and truncated Cx50/Cx46 exhibit self-protection against oxidative damages. The goal is to understand distinctive, new roles of connexin hemichannels in lens fiber cells under normal physiological and pathological (e.g. oxidative stress) conditions. In this proposal, first, we will determine if connexin hemichannels activated by mechanical loading serve as a major transport pathway facilitating the uptake of nutrients and antioxidants into cortical lens fibers, and the role of integrins in regulating hemichannels. Second, we will test if nutrients/antioxidants uptaken by hemichannels in cortical fibers are delivered through gap junctions to inner cortical and nuclear fibers to meet metabolic needs of cell homeostasis and protect inner fiber cells. Third, we will determine if hemichannels formed by both full-length and truncated Cx50/Cx46 offer a self-protective mechanism against oxidative insult. One of the major innovative aspects is that this proposal aims to uncover a novel role that connexin hemichannels formed by full-length and truncated connexins play in facilitating metabolic function of lens fibers and protecting fiber cells against oxidative damages. We will use established lens primary cultures and retroviral expression in lens in situ, a newly developed dominant negative ex vivo approach, and knockout mouse models. It is our expectation that elucidation of mechanistic roles of connexin channels in lens fibers will provide a better understanding of the general homeostatic process of lens under normal and pathological conditions. The outcomes of our research will be significant because the discoveries should make novel and beneficial contributions to new therapeutic strategies and identify drug targets for the treatment of lens disorders such as age-related cataracts.

Public Health Relevance

Cataracts are one of the most common eye diseases and also one of the leading causes for blindness worldwide. Connexins play important roles in lens homeostasis and mutations in connexin genes lead to human congenital cataracts. The proposed research activity will help in understanding the molecular mechanism underlying the function of connexin channels under physiological and pathological conditions, and should make novel contributions to new ideas and strategies for drug discovery and development in treatment of cataracts.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY012085-22
Application #
9878855
Study Section
Biology of the Visual System Study Section (BVS)
Program Officer
Araj, Houmam H
Project Start
1998-02-01
Project End
2023-02-28
Budget Start
2020-03-01
Budget End
2021-02-28
Support Year
22
Fiscal Year
2020
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Health Science Center
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
800772162
City
San Antonio
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
78229
Iyyathurai, Jegan; Wang, Nan; D'hondt, Catheleyne et al. (2018) The SH3-binding domain of Cx43 participates in loop/tail interactions critical for Cx43-hemichannel activity. Cell Mol Life Sci 75:2059-2073
Shi, Wen; Riquelme, Manuel A; Gu, Sumin et al. (2018) Connexin hemichannels mediate glutathione transport and protect lens fiber cells from oxidative stress. J Cell Sci 131:
Hu, Zhengping; Riquelme, Manuel A; Wang, Bin et al. (2018) Cataract-associated connexin 46 mutation alters its interaction with calmodulin and function of hemichannels. J Biol Chem 293:2573-2585
Tarzemany, Rana; Jiang, Guoqiao; Jiang, Jean X et al. (2018) Connexin 43 regulates the expression of wound healing-related genes in human gingival and skin fibroblasts. Exp Cell Res 367:150-161
Tarzemany, Rana; Jiang, Guoqiao; Jiang, Jean X et al. (2017) Connexin 43 Hemichannels Regulate the Expression of Wound Healing-Associated Genes in Human Gingival Fibroblasts. Sci Rep 7:14157
Xu, Huiyun; Liu, Ruofei; Ning, Dandan et al. (2017) Biological responses of osteocytic connexin 43 hemichannels to simulated microgravity. J Orthop Res 35:1195-1202
Hu, Zhengping; Shi, Wen; Riquelme, Manuel A et al. (2017) Connexin 50 Functions as an Adhesive Molecule and Promotes Lens Cell Differentiation. Sci Rep 7:5298
Roy, Sayon; Jiang, Jean X; Li, An-Fei et al. (2017) Connexin channel and its role in diabetic retinopathy. Prog Retin Eye Res 61:35-59
Zhou, J Z; Riquelme, M A; Gu, S et al. (2016) Osteocytic connexin hemichannels suppress breast cancer growth and bone metastasis. Oncogene 35:5597-5607
Shi, Qian; Jiang, Jean X (2016) Connexin arrests the cell cycle through cytosolic retention of an E3 ligase. Mol Cell Oncol 3:e1132119

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