Research Faculty

Gülgün Tezel, M.D.

Professor, Department of Ophthalmology &
Visual Sciences

Department of Anatomical Sciences & Neurobiology

CONTACT INFORMATION:

301 E. Muhammad Ali Boulevard, Louisville KY 40202
Telephone: 502-852-7395 (office)
502-852-1215/2750 (labs)
E-mail: Gulgun.tezel@louisville.edu

EDUCATION:

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

The overall goal of my laboratory is to better understand and treat glaucomatous neurodegeneration. To provide new treatment strategies targeting retinal ganglion cells, glia, and immunomodulation, we analyze signaling pathways of retinal ganglion cell death, neuron-glia interactions, and immune response. Our studies using in vitro and in vivo experimental models of glaucoma specifically aim to define distinct responses of retinal ganglion cells and glial cells using quantitative mass spectrometry-based proteomic/bioinformatic analysis techniques, and parallel studies using specific pharmacological treatments or transgenic models pursue the path for functional testing of outcome molecules. We also analyze human donor eyes to validate the relevance of our experimental findings to human glaucoma. By integrating different risk factors, creating a profile of cell-specific proteomic alterations in retinal ganglion cells and astrocytes, and testing functional outcomes, two ongoing projects are specifically focused on TNF-α signaling and oxidative stress. Current work also utilizes glaucomatous and non-glaucomatous serum samples for biomarker discovery through proteomic/immuoproteomic approaches.

PUBLICATIONS: (15 selected publications from 99)

1. Tezel G, Wax MB. Increased production of TNF-α by glial cells exposed to simulated ischemia or elevated hydrostatic pressure induces apoptosis in co-cultured retinal ganglion cells. J Neurosci. 2000 Dec 1;20(23):8693-700. PMID: 11102475
2. Tezel G, Yang X, Yang J, Wax MB. Role of tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 in the death of retinal ganglion cells following optic nerve crush injury in mice. Brain Res. 2004 Jan 23;996(2):202-12. PMID: 14697498
3. Tezel G, Yang X. Caspase-independent component of retinal ganglion cell death, in vitro. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2004 Nov;45(11):4049-59. PMID: 15505055
4. Tezel G, Yang X. Comparative gene array analysis of TNF-α-induced MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways between retinal ganglion cells and glial cells. Exp Eye Res. 2005 Aug;81(2):207-17. PMID: 16080915
5. Tezel G, Yang X, Cai J. Proteomic identification of oxidatively modified retinal proteins in a chronic pressure-induced rat model of glaucoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2005 Sep;46(9):3177-87. PMID: 16123417
6. Tezel G. Oxidative stress in glaucomatous neurodegeneration: Mechanisms and consequences. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2006 Sep;25(5):490-513. Epub 2006 Sep 7. PMID: 16962364
7. Tezel G, Yang X, Luo C, Peng Y, Sun SL, Sun D. Mechanisms of immune system activation in glaucoma: oxidative stress-stimulated antigen presentation by the retina and optic nerve head glia. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2007 Feb;48(2):705-14. 8. PMID: 17251469
8. Tezel G, Luo C, Yang X. Accelerated aging in glaucoma: immunohistochemical assessment of advanced glycation end products in the human retina and optic nerve head. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2007 Mar;48(3):1201-11. PMID: 17325164
9. Yang X, Luo C, Cai J, Pierce WM, Tezel G. Phosphorylation-dependent interaction with 14-3-3 in the regulation of bad trafficking in retinal ganglion cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2008 Jun;49(6):2483-94. Epub 2008 Feb 22. PMID: 18296656
10. Tezel G. TNF-α signaling in glaucomatous neurodegeneration. Research series: "Glaucoma: An Open-Window to Neurodegeneration and Neuroprotection.” Prog Brain Res. 2008;173:409-21. PMID: 18929124
11. Tezel G. The role of glia, mitochondria and the immune system in glaucoma. Invited Conference Report. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2009 Mar;50(3):1001-12. PMID: 19244206
12. Tezel G, Yang X, Luo C, Cai J, Kain AD, Powell DW, Kuehn MH, Pierce WM. Hemoglobin expression and regulation in glaucoma: Insights into retinal ganglion cell oxygenation. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2010 Feb;51(2):907-19. Epub 2009 Sep 9. PMID: 19741249
13. Tezel G, Yang X, Luo C, Kain AD, Powell DW, Kuehn MH, Kaplan HJ. Oxidative stress and the regulation of complement activation in human glaucoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2010 Oct;51(10):5071-82. Epub 2010 May 19. PMID: 20484586
14. Luo C, Yang X, Kain AD, Powell DW, Kuehn MH, Tezel G. Glaucomatous tissue stress and the regulation of immune response through the toll-like receptor signaling. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2010 Nov;51(11):5697-707. Epub 2010 Jun 10. PMID: 20538986
15. Tezel G. The immune response in glaucoma: A perspective on the roles of oxidative stress. Exp Eye Res. 2010 Aug 13. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 20709058