Investigation of Mitophagy Biomarkers in Corneal Epithelium of Keratoconus Patients.
Erdost YildizDilara AydemirNoushin ZibandehEda KuşanKoray GümüşÖzge İlhan SaraçMelisa Zişan KarslıoğluNurullah ÇağılAfsun SahinPublished in: Current eye research (2022)
PINK1/PARKIN-dependent mitophagy is affected in the keratoconic corneal epithelium. We found significant decreases in both mRNA and protein expressions of PINK1 in the keratoconic corneal epithelium. However, we did not observe any other significant change in mitophagy markers. Mitochondrial stress-related mitophagy pathways could be interrupted by the decreased levels of PINK1 in the keratoconic corneal epithelium, but solely PINK1 dysregulation is not likely to induce KC pathogenesis.