Increased immunoreactivity of glutathione-S-transferase in the retina of Swiss Webster mice following inhalation of JP8+100 aerosol

Abstract

The current study was designed to determine whether exposure of mice to aerosolized jet fuel (JP8 + 100) resulted in changes in the cellular distribution or immunoreactivity of the enzyme glutathione S-transferase (GST), a biomarker of toxicant exposure. Male mice were exposed to JP8 + 100 at 1000 mg/m3 or 2500 mg/m3 in aerosol for 1 h per day for 7 days and then sacrificed. The retinas were studied by immunohistochemical methods. The JP8 + 100 exposure caused a marked increase in the immunoreactivity of anti-GSTM antibodies with the radial glial cells of the retina, the Müller cells. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that JP8 + 100 acts as a toxicant to mouse retina by permitting the flux of materials across the blood-retina barrier. The findings are relevant to humans because recent studies indicate that Air Force personnel assigned to clean and maintain fuel pods may be exposed to concentrations of JP8 + 100 exceeding 1000 mg/m3.

The Proteome of Native Adult Müller Glial Cells From Murine Retina

“…Interestingly, many of the Müller cell-enriched proteins identified with our approach are known to be involved in oxidative defense mechanisms ( e.g. Gstm5, Gstt1, Pon2, Prdx1, Prdx6) ( 30 , 31 , 72 – 74 ). Of note, a reduced transcript level of GSTM5 and GSTT1 in human retinae and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) owing to promoter hypermethylation have been associated with an increased risk to develop age-related macular degeneration - a retinal disease associated with oxidative stress induced RPE and neuronal degeneration ( 75 ).…”