The Cytotoxicity of Truncated (Q368X) Myocilin in Trabecular Meshwork (TM) Cells

Purpose : To investigate the cytotoxicities of wild type myocilin and trunctated (Q368X) myocilin in cultured human trabecular meshwork (TM) cells. Methods : GFP tagged truncated myocilin and DsRED1 tagged wild?type myocilin were expressed in TM cells using adenoviral vectors and observed colocalization by confocal microscope. Cytopathic effects in the cells were examined by light microscope and WST-1 cell proliferation assay. Results : Colocalization of wild type and truncated myocilin was observed in cells co-expressing the proteins. Truncated myocilin was found to be toxic to cells, leading to deformed cellular morphology and diminished cell proliferation. Conclusions : The intracellular accumulation of truncated myocilin exhibited cytotoxicity in trabecular meshwork cells, and eventually resulted in diminished number and dysfunction of trabecular meshwork cells, which might be involved in the pathogenesis of glaucoma.