Ref-1 is overexpressed in neovascular eye disease and targetable with a novel inhibitor.

ABSTRACT: Reduction-oxidation factor-1 or apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (Ref-1/APE1) is a crucial redox-sensitive activator of transcription factors such as NF-κB, HIF-1α, STAT-3 and others. It could contribute to key features of ocular neovascularization including inflammation and angiogenesis; these underlie diseases like neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). We previously revealed a role for Ref-1 in the growth of ocular endothelial cells and in choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Here, we set out to further explore Ref-1 in neovascular eye disease. Ref-1 was highly expressed in human nAMD, murine laser-induced CNV and Vldlr^-/- mouse subretinal neovascularization (SRN). Ref-1's interaction with a redox-specific small molecule inhibitor, APX2009, was shown by NMR a

SUBMITTER: Muniyandi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12019292 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature