Romo1 expression contributes to oxidative stress-induced death of lung epithelial cells

Jung Ar Shin, Jin Sil Chung, Sang Ho Cho, Hyung Jung Kim, Young Do Yoo

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    37 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Oxidant-mediated death of lung epithelial cells due to cigarette smoking plays an important role in pathogenesis in lung diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, the exact mechanism by which oxidants induce epithelial cell death is not fully understood. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) modulator 1 (Romo1) is localized in the mitochondria and mediates mitochondrial ROS production through complex III of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Here, we show that Romo1 mediates mitochondrial ROS production and apoptosis induced by oxidative stress in lung epithelial cells. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) treatment increased Romo1 expression, and Romo1 knockdown suppressed the cellular ROS levels and cell death triggered by H2O2 treatment. In immunohistochemical staining of lung tissues from patients with IPF, Romo1 was mainly localized in hyperplastic alveolar and bronchial epithelial cells. Romo1 overexpression was detected in 14 of 18 patients with IPF. TUNEL-positive alveolar epithelial cells were also detected in most patients with IPF but not in normal controls. These findings suggest that Romo1 mediates apoptosis induced by oxidative stress in lung epithelial cells.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)315-320
    Number of pages6
    JournalBiochemical and biophysical research communications
    Volume439
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2013 Sept 20

    Bibliographical note

    Funding Information:
    This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology ( NRF-2012R1A1A2003274 and NRF-2013R1A1A2009792 ) and by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) Grant funded by the Korea Government ( NRF-2012R1A2A2A01045800 ).

    Keywords

    • Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
    • Lung injury
    • Oxidative stress
    • Reactive oxygen species
    • Romo1

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Biophysics
    • Biochemistry
    • Molecular Biology
    • Cell Biology

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