title: Alpha-A-Crystallin Protects Lens Epithelial Cell-Derived iPSC-Like Cells Against Apoptosis Induced by Oxidative Stress.
abstract: Cataract, the leading cause of blindness worldwide, is caused by the apoptosis of lens epithelial cells (LECs). αA-crystallin is a major structural protein of the lens. However, the antiapoptotic function of αA-crystallin in lens stem cells remains unclear. In this study, primary LECs were isolated from postnatal 3-5 days of SD rats and transfected by Sendai virus loaded with four factors, OCT3/4, Sox2, c-Myc, and Klf4, to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). LEC-iPSC-like cells were identified by immunofluorescent staining. CryαA-specific shRNA lentivirus was used to knockdown αA-crystallin in LEC-derived iPSC-like cells, which were treated with tert-Butyl hydroperoxide. The apoptosis of LEC-iPSC-like cells was examined by flow cytometry. We reprogrammed LECs and obtained embryonic stem cell-like colonies. LEC-iPSC-like cells with normal karyotype expressed pluripotent markers such as SSEA-4, TRA-1-60, and TRA-1-81. Knockdown of αA-crystallin increased the apoptosis of LEC-iPSC-like cells and rendered them less resistant to oxidation stress induced by tert-Butyl hydroperoxide. In conclusion, LECs could be reprogrammed into iPSC-like cells and αA-crystallins could protect LEC-iPSC-like cells from oxidation stress-induced apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University , Changsha, Hunan Province, China .
authors.forename: Yixin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University , Changsha, Hunan Province, China .
authors.forename: Haibo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University , Changsha, Hunan Province, China .
authors.forename: Haibo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University , Changsha, Hunan Province, China .
authors.forename: Weitao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University , Changsha, Hunan Province, China .
authors.forename: Xiaobo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003459:Crystallins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000090062:Kruppel-Like Factor 4; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D003459:Crystallins; C000715469:Klf4 protein, rat; D000090062:Kruppel-Like Factor 4