Antiapoptotic Properties of α-Crystallin–Derived Peptide Chaperones and Characterization of Their Uptake Transporters in Human RPE Cells

Abstract

αA- and αB-crystallin mini-chaperones offer protection to hfRPE cells and inhibit caspase-3 activation. The oligopeptide transporters SOPT1 and SOPT2 mediate the uptake of these peptides in RPE cells. Nanodelivery of αB-crystallin-derived mini-chaperone peptide offers an alternative approach for protection of hfRPE cells from oxidant injury.