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  • Title: Iron regulates L-cystine uptake and glutathione levels in lens epithelial and retinal pigment epithelial cells by its effect on cytosolic aconitase.
    Author: Lall MM, Ferrell J, Nagar S, Fleisher LN, McGahan MC.
    Journal: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci; 2008 Jan; 49(1):310-9. PubMed ID: 18172108.
    Abstract:
    PURPOSE: The authors previously published the novel finding that iron regulates L-glutamate synthesis and accumulation in the cell-conditioned medium (CCM) by increasing cytosolic aconitase activity in cultured lens epithelial cells (LECs), retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, and neurons. The present study was designed to determine whether iron-induced L-glutamate accumulation in the CCM regulates L-cystine uptake and glutathione (GSH) levels through the aconitase pathway in LECs and RPE cells. METHODS: The presence of xCT, the light chain of X(c)(-), a glutamate/cystine antiporter, was analyzed by RT-PCR, immunoblotting, and immunocytochemistry. Uptake of L-[(35)S]cystine and L-[(3)H]glutamate was measured in the presence or absence of transporter inhibitors. L-cystine uptake and intracellular GSH concentration were measured in the presence or absence of iron-saturated transferrin, the iron chelator dipyridyl (DP), or oxalomalic acid (OMA), an aconitase inhibitor. RESULTS: LECs and RPE cells express xCT, as evidenced by RT-PCR analysis and immunoblotting. xCT was localized by immunocytochemistry. The authors found that the iron-induced increase in L-glutamate availability increased L-cystine uptake, with subsequent increases in GSH levels. In addition, L-glutamate production, L-cystine uptake, and GSH concentration were inhibited by OMA and DP, indicating a central role for iron-regulated aconitase activity in GSH synthesis in LECs and RPE cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate for the first time that iron regulates L-cystine uptake and the downstream production of GSH in two mammalian cell types. It is possible that the increase in intracellular antioxidant concentration induced by iron serves as a protective mechanism against the well-established capacity of iron to induce oxidative damage.
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