Essential roles of the PI3 kinase/Akt pathway in regulating Nrf2-dependent antioxidant functions in the RPE

PURPOSE. To investigate functional interactions between the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway and the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-dependent antioxidant system in cultured human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. METHODS. Cultured ARPE-19 cells were treated with different concentrations of PI3K inhibitors, followed by exposure to sulforaphane, an Nrf2 inducer. Akt phosphorylation was detected by Western blot analysis. Intracellular glutathione (GSH) content was measured by HPLC. Expression of genes downstream of Nrf2, including glutamate-cysteine ligase (GCL) and glutathione S-transferase, was measured by quantitative RTPCR. Nrf2 activity was measured by a dual luciferase assay after transfection of a reporter plasmid containing the antioxidant response element ( ARE). The small interference RNA approach was used to knock down Nrf2 in the RPE. Nrf2 localization was determined by subcellular fractionation and Western blot analyses. RESULTS. PI3K inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002 caused dose-dependent cellular and mitochondrial GSH depletion and downregulation of the modulatory subunit of GCL in cultured RPE cells. Both the basal and the induced Nrf2 activities were inhibited by wortmannin and LY294002. Overexpression of a constitutively active form of Akt potentiated Nrf2 activation, and the effect of Akt was blocked by siRNA that knocked down Nrf2. LY294002 also inhibited sulforaphane-induced Nrf2 nuclear translocation. CONCLUSIONS. The PI3K/Akt pathway plays key roles in regulating Nrf2-ARE-dependent protection against oxidative stress in the RPE.