Figure 4

Enhanced cellular autophagy in glaucomatous LC cells. A: Levels of ATG5 mRNA were quantified by real-time PCR analysis. Gene expression rates were compared using 18S rRNA normalized threshold cycle number values (cT’s). PCR samples were visualized by electrophoresis in 1% agarose gel. As can be seen from the agarose gel shown, elevated levels of ATG5 mRNA were found in glaucomatous LC cells (n = 3) relative to NLC (n = 3). B: Elevated levels of Atg5 protein in glaucoma LC cells relative to normal LC cells were confirmed by Western blotting. Actin was included as a loading control. C: While both normal LC (n = 2) and glaucomatous LC cells (n = 2) had approximately equal quantities of LC3-I protein, in the Western blot given we observe an increase in LC3-II in LC cells from glaucoma donors.