Publications -- Hongli (Catherine) Wu

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12503/31969

This collection is limited to articles published under the terms of a creative commons license or other open access publishing agreement since 2016. It is not intended as a complete list of the author's works.

Browse

Recent Submissions

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    A macrocyclic molecule with multiple antioxidative activities protects the lens from oxidative damage
    (Frontiers Media S.A., 2022-11-18) Zhang, Jinmin; Yu, Yu; Mekhail, Magy A.; Wu, Hongli; Green, Kayla N.
    Growing evidence links oxidative stress to the development of a cataract and other diseases of the eye. Treatments for lens-derived diseases are still elusive outside of the standard surgical interventions, which still carry risks today. Therefore, a potential drug molecule (OH)Py(2)N(2) was explored for the ability to target multiple components of oxidative stress in the lens to prevent cataract formation. Several pathways were identified. Here we show that the (OH)Py(2)N(2) molecule activates innate catalytic mechanisms in primary lens epithelial cells to prevent damage induced by oxidative stress. This protection was linked to the upregulation of Nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 and downstream antioxidant enzyme for glutathione-dependent glutaredoxins, based on Western Blot methods. The anti-ferroptotic potential was established by showing that (OH)Py(2)N(2) increases levels of glutathione peroxidase, decreases lipid peroxidation, and readily binds iron (II) and (III). The bioenergetics pathway, which has been shown to be negatively impacted in many diseases involving oxidative stress, was also enhanced as evidence by increased levels of Adenosine triphosphate product when the lens epithelial cells were co-incubated with (OH)Py(2)N(2). Lastly, (OH)Py(2)N(2) was also found to prevent oxidative stress-induced lens opacity in an ex vivo organ culture model. Overall, these results show that there are multiple pathways that the (OH)Py(2)N(2) has the ability to impact to promote natural mechanisms within cells to protect against chronic oxidative stress in the eye.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Involvement of Nrf2 in Ocular Diseases
    (Hindawi, 2017-03-27) Batliwala, Shehzad; Xavier, Christy; Liu, Yang; Wu, Hongli; Pang, Iok-Hou
    The human body harbors within it an intricate and delicate balance between oxidants and antioxidants. Any disruption in this checks-and-balances system can lead to harmful consequences in various organs and tissues, such as the eye. This review focuses on the effects of oxidative stress and the role of a particular antioxidant system-the Keap1-Nrf2-ARE pathway-on ocular diseases, specifically age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. Together, they are the major causes of blindness in the world.