Hypoxia-Regulated Activity of PKCε in the Lens

PURPOSE. To show that hypoxia is necessary to prevent opacification of the lens. Protein kinase C (PKC)-epsilon serves a role that is distinct from PKC-gamma when both PKC isoforms are expressed in the lens. PKC epsilon serves a very important role in hypoxic conditions, helping to prevent opacification of the lens. METHODS. Digital image analysis, confocal microscopy, dye transfer assay, coimmunoprecipitation, Western blot analysis, and enzyme activity assays were used, respectively, to study opacification of the lens, intercellular communications, cellular localization of connexin-43 (Cx43), and the interactions between PKC epsilon, PKC gamma, and Cx43 in the lens epithelial cells. RESULTS. Hypoxic conditions (1%-5% of oxygen) were very important in maintaining clarity of the lenses of wild-type (WT) mice. Normoxic conditions induced opacification of the WT lens. Lenses from the PKC epsilon-knockout mice underwent rapid opacification, even in hypoxic conditions. Hypoxia did not induce apoptosis in the lens epithelial cells, judging by the absence of active caspase-3, and it did not change intercellular communication and did not affect the number and localization of junctional Cx43 plaques in the lens epithelial cell culture. Hypoxia activated PKC epsilon, whereas phorbol ester (TPA), oxidation (H2O2), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) activated PKC gamma and decreased the activity of PKC epsilon. Hypoxia did not induce the phosphorylation of the Cx43. CONCLUSIONS. Hypoxia-induced activation of PKC epsilon is very important in surviving hypoxia and maintaining the clarity of the lens. However, PKC gamma is utilized in the control of Cx43 gap junctions. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2009; 50: 1271-1282) DOI:10.1167/iovs.08-2599