Glutaredoxin 2 knockout increases sensitivity to oxidative stress in mouse lens epithelial cells

Glutaredoxin belongs to the oxidoreductase family, with cytosolic glutaredoxin 1 (Grx1) and mitochondrial glutaredoxin 2 (Grx2) isoforms. Of the two isozymes, the function of Grx2 is not well understood. This paper describes the effects of Grx2 deletion on cellular function using primary lens epithelial cell cultures isolated from Grx2 gene knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice. We found that both cell types showed similar growth patterns and morphology and comparable mitochondrial glutathione pool and complex I activity. Cells with deleted Grx2 did not show affected Grx1 or thioredoxin expression but exhibited high sensitivity to oxidative stress. Under treatment with H2O2, the KO cells showed less viability, higher membrane leakage, enhanced ATP loss and complex I inactivation, and weakened ability to detoxify H2O2 in comparison with the WT cells. The KO cells had higher glutathionylation in the mitochondrial proteins, particularly the 75-kDa subunit of complex I. Recombinant Grx2 deglutathionylated complex I and restored most of its activity. We conclude that Grx2 has a function that protects cells against H2O2-induced injury via its peroxidase and dethiolase activities; particularly, Grx2 prevents complex I inactivation and preserves mitochondrial function.

► Primary lens epithelial cells were established from Grx2 knockout mouse.
► The Grx2 knockout cells showed no phenotype but highly sensitive to oxidative stress.
► The Grx2 null cells treated with H2O2 caused specific glutathionylation in complex 1.
► Imported Grx2 prevents complex I inactivation and preserves mitochondrial function.