Lysosome-associated membrane protein-2 deficiency increases the risk of reactive oxygen species-induced ferroptosis in retinal pigment epithelial cells

Lysosome-associated membrane protein-2 (LAMP2), is a highly glycosylated lysosomal membrane protein involved in chaperone mediated autophagy. Mutations of LAMP2 cause the classic triad of myopathy, cardiomyopathy and encephalopathy of Danon disease (DD). Additionally, retinopathy has also been observed in young DD patients, leading to vision loss. Emerging evidence show LAMP2-deficiency to be involved in oxidative stress (ROS) but the mechanism remains obscure. In the present study, we found that tert-butyl hydroperoxide or antimycin A induced more cell death in LAMP2 knockdown (LAMP2-KD) than in control ARPE-19 cells. Mechanistically, LAMP2-KD reduced the concentration of cytosolic cysteine, resulting in low glutathione (GSH), inferior antioxidant capability and mitochondrial lipid peroxidation. ROS induced RPE cell death through ferroptosis. Inhibition of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4) increased lethality in LAMP2-KD cells compared to controls. Cysteine and glutamine supplementation restored GSH and prevented ROS-induced cell death of LAMP2-KD RPE cells.     

Mechanism of RPE cell death in α-crystallin deficient mice: a novel and critical role for MRP1-mediated GSH efflux

Absence of α-crystallins (αA and αB) in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells renders them susceptible to oxidant-induced cell death. We tested the hypothesis that the protective effect of α-crystallin is mediated by changes in cellular glutathione (GSH) and elucidated the mechanism of GSH efflux. In α-crystallin overexpressing cells resistant to cell death, cellular GSH was >2 fold higher than vector control cells and this increase was seen particularly in mitochondria. The high GSH levels associated with α-crystallin overexpression were due to increased GSH biosynthesis. On the other hand, cellular GSH was decreased by 50% in murine retina lacking αA or αB crystallin. Multiple multidrug resistance protein (MRP) family isoforms were expressed in RPE, among which MRP1 was the most abundant. MRP1 was localized to the plasma membrane and inhibition of MRP1 markedly decreased GSH efflux. MRP1-suppressed cells were resistant to cell death and contained elevated intracellular GSH and GSSG. Increased GSH in MRP1-supressed cells resulted from a higher conversion of GSSG to GSH by glutathione reductase. In contrast, GSH efflux was significantly higher in MRP1 overexpressing RPE cells which also contained lower levels of cellular GSH and GSSG. Oxidative stress further increased GSH efflux with a decrease in cellular GSH and rendered cells apoptosis-prone. In conclusion, our data reveal for the first time that 1) MRP1 mediates GSH and GSSG efflux in RPE cells; 2) MRP1 inhibition renders RPE cells resistant to oxidative stress-induced cell death while MRP1 overexpression makes them susceptible and 3) the antiapoptotic function of α-crystallin in oxidatively stressed cells is mediated in part by GSH and MRP1. Our findings suggest that MRP1 and α crystallin are potential therapeutic targets in pathological retinal degenerative disorders linked to oxidative stress.     

Ferroptosis: Role of lipid peroxidation,iron and ferritinophagy

Ferroptosis is a form of regulated cell death that is dependent on iron and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and is characterized by lipid peroxidation. It is morphologically and biochemically distinct and disparate from other processes of cell death. As ferroptosis is induced by inhibition of cysteine uptake or inactivation of the lipid repair enzyme glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), the process is favored by chemical or mutational inhibition of the cystine/glutamate antiporter and culminates in the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the form of lipid hydroperoxides. Excessive lipid peroxidation leads to death by ferroptosis and the phenotype is accentuated respectively by the repletion and depletion of iron and glutathione in cells. Furthermore, oxidized phosphatidylethanolamines (PE) harbouring arachidonoyl (AA) and adrenoyl moieties (AdA) have been shown as proximate executioners of ferroptosis. Induction of ferroptosis due to cysteine depletion leads to the degradation of ferritin (i.e. ferritinophagy), which releases iron via the NCOA4-mediated autophagy pathway. Evidence of the manifestation of ferroptosis in vivo in iron overload mice mutants is emerging. Thus, a concerted synchronization of iron availability, ROS generation, glutamate excess and cysteine deficit leads to ferroptosis. A number of questions on the molecular mechanisms of some features of ferroptosis are highlighted as subjects for future investigations.     

二氢青蒿素通过诱导铁死亡抑制肝癌细胞生长

二氢青蒿素（dihydroartemisinin,DHA）是青蒿素的一种衍生物,在多种肿瘤中表现出明显的抗肿瘤活性,但其具体机制不详。本文探讨了DHA对肝癌细胞的毒性作用机制。利用CCK-8试剂检测DHA对肝癌细胞株活力的影响,通过荧光探针染色及流式细胞术分析细胞内ROS及脂质过氧化物水平的变化;通过谷胱甘肽测定试剂盒检测细胞内还原型谷胱甘肽含量的变化,并通过免疫印迹分析DHA作用下细胞内铁死亡通路蛋白质中GPX4的变化。结果发现,DHA能显著抑制SMMC-7721及Huh-7细胞活力,其半数抑制浓度分别为23.74 μmol/L及26.92 μmol/L。 在35 μmol/L DHA 处理下,SMMC-7721及Huh-7细胞内ROS分别升高2.6倍和2.1倍,脂质过氧化物升高2.3倍和1.7倍。DHA可诱导细胞内GSH含量下降,并能下调铁死亡相关蛋白质GPX4蛋白水平。通过利用小分子抑制剂进行功能恢复实验发现,ROS抑制剂、铁螯合剂及铁死亡抑制剂都可不同程度恢复DHA引起的细胞活力下降。进一步检测发现,铁死亡抑制剂可抑制DHA诱导的脂质过氧化,并恢复GSH含量及GPX4蛋白水平。结果表明,在肝癌细胞中,DHA可通过诱导细胞发生铁死亡抑制肝癌细胞生长。     

二氢青蒿素通过诱导铁死亡抑制肝癌细胞生长

二氢青蒿素（dihydroartemisinin,DHA）是青蒿素的一种衍生物,在多种肿瘤中表现出明显的抗肿瘤活性,但其具体机制不详。本文探讨了DHA对肝癌细胞的毒性作用机制。利用CCK-8试剂检测DHA对肝癌细胞株活力的影响,通过荧光探针染色及流式细胞术分析细胞内ROS及脂质过氧化物水平的变化;通过谷胱甘肽测定试剂盒检测细胞内还原型谷胱甘肽含量的变化,并通过免疫印迹分析DHA作用下细胞内铁死亡通路蛋白质中GPX4的变化。结果发现,DHA能显著抑制SMMC-7721及Huh-7细胞活力,其半数抑制浓度分别为23.74 μmol/L及26.92 μmol/L。 在35 μmol/L DHA 处理下,SMMC-7721及Huh-7细胞内ROS分别升高2.6倍和2.1倍,脂质过氧化物升高2.3倍和1.7倍。DHA可诱导细胞内GSH含量下降,并能下调铁死亡相关蛋白质GPX4蛋白水平。通过利用小分子抑制剂进行功能恢复实验发现,ROS抑制剂、铁螯合剂及铁死亡抑制剂都可不同程度恢复DHA引起的细胞活力下降。进一步检测发现,铁死亡抑制剂可抑制DHA诱导的脂质过氧化,并恢复GSH含量及GPX4蛋白水平。结果表明,在肝癌细胞中,DHA可通过诱导细胞发生铁死亡抑制肝癌细胞生长。     

Concurrent expression of heme oxygenase-1 and p53 in human retinal pigment epithelial cell line

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a stress-responsive protein that is known to regulate cellular functions such as cell proliferation, inflammation, and apoptosis. Here, we investigated the effects of HO activity on the expression of p53 in the human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell line ARPE-19. Cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP) induced the expression of both HO-1 and p53 without significant toxicity to the cells. In addition, the blockage of HO activity with the iron chelator DFO or with HO-1 siRNA inhibited the CoPP-induced expression of p53. Similarly, zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP), an inhibitor of HO, suppressed p53 expression in ARPE-19 cells, although ZnPP increased the level of HO-1 protein while inhibiting HO activity. Also, CoPP-induced p53 expression was not affected by the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Based on these results, we conclude that HO activity is involved in the regulation of p53 expression in a ROS-independent mechanism, and also suggest that the expression of p53 in ARPE-19 cells is associated with heme metabolites such as biliverdin/bilirubin, carbon monoxide, and iron produced by the activity of HO.     

Activation of KGFR-Akt-mTOR-Nrf2 signaling protects human retinal pigment epithelium cells from Ultra-violet

Ultra-violet (UV) radiation causes oxidative injuries to human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. We tested the potential effect of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) against the process. KGF receptor (KGFR) is expressed in ARPE-19?cells and primary human RPE cells. Pre-treatment with KGF inhibited UV-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and RPE cell death. KGF activated nuclear-factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling in RPE cells, causing Nrf2 Ser-40 phosphorylation, stabilization and nuclear translocation as well as expression of Nrf2-dependent genes (HO1, NOQ1 and GCLC). Nrf2 knockdown (by targeted shRNAs) or S40T mutation almost reversed KGF-induced RPE cell protection against UV. Further studies demonstrated that KGF activated KGFR-Akt-mTORC1 signaling to mediate downstream Nrf2 activation. KGFR shRNA or Akt-mTORC1 inhibition not only blocked KGF-induced Nrf2 Ser-40 phosphorylation and activation, but also nullified KGF-mediated RPE cell protection against UV. We conclude that KGF-KGFR activates Akt-mTORC1 downstream Nrf2 signaling to protect RPE cells from UV radiation.     

Hyperglycemia-induced GLP-1R downregulation causes RPE cell apoptosis

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) is closely associated with the onset of diabetes and its complications. However, its roles in diabetic retinopathy are unknown. Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells are a crucial component of the outer blood–retina barrier and their death is related to the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Thus, we examined the pathophysiological role of GLP-1R in RPE cell apoptosis. We found that GLP-1R expression was lower in the isolated neuroretina and RPE cells of streptozotocin-treated rats than in vehicle-treated rats. High-glucose treatment also decreased GLP-1R expression in a human RPE cell line (ARPE-19 cells). GLP-1R was silenced in ARPE-19 cells, in order to elucidate the pathophysiological roles of GLP-1R. This increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and activated p53-mediated Bax promoter and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signaling. We also found that GLP-1R knockdown-mediated p53 expression was regulated by ER stress. Interestingly, antioxidant treatment and peroxiredoxin 1 (Prx1) overexpression attenuated GLP-1R knockdown-induced ER stress signaling and p53 expression. Finally, to confirm that GLP-1R activation has protective effects, ARPE-19 cells were treated with exendin-4, a synthetic GLP-1R agonist. This attenuated high-glucose-induced ROS generation, ER stress signaling, and p53 expression. Collectively, these results indicated that hyperglycemia decreases GLP-1R expression in RPE cells. Such a decrease generates intracellular ROS, which increases ER stress-mediated p53 expression, and subsequently causes apoptosis by increasing Bax promoter activity. Our data suggested that regulation of GLP-1R expression is a promising approach for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy.     

Erythropoietin protects retinal pigment epithelial cells from oxidative damage

Oxidative damage from reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been implicated in many diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, in which the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is considered a primary target. The aim of this study was to determine whether erythropoietin (EPO) protects cultured human RPE cells against oxidative damage and to identify the pathways that may mediate protection. EPO (1 IU/ml) significantly increased the viability of oxidant-treated RPE cells, decreased the release of the inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β, recovered the RPE cells' barrier integrity disrupted by oxidative stress, prevented oxidant-induced cell DNA fragmentation and membrane phosphatidylserine exposure, and also reduced the levels of oxidant-induced intracellular ROS and restored cellular antioxidant potential, total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase and decreased malondialdehyde, the end product of lipid peroxidation. EPO inhibited caspase-3-like activity. Protection by EPO was partly dependent on the activation of Akt1 and the maintenance of the mitochondrial membrane potential. No enhanced or synergistic protection was observed during application of Z-DEVD-FMK (caspase-3 inhibitor) combined with EPO compared with cultures exposed to EPO and H₂O₂ alone. Together, these results suggest that EPO could protect against oxidative injury-induced cell death and mitochondrial dysfunction in RPE cells through modulation of Akt1 phosphorylation, mitochondrial membrane potential, and cysteine protease activity.     

Inhibition of the oxidative stress-induced miR-23a protects the human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells from apoptosis through the upregulation of glutaminase and glutamine uptake

The degeneration of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells in the sub retinal pigment epithelial space and choroid is an initial pathological characteristic for the age-related macular degeneration which is the leading cause of severe vision loss in old people. Moreover, oxidative stress is implicated as a major inducer of RPE cell death. Here, we assessed the correlation between the H₂O₂-induced RPE cell death and glutamine metabolism. We found under low glutamine supply (20 %), the ARPE-19 cells were more susceptive to H₂O₂-induced apoptosis. Moreover, the glutamine uptake and the glutaminase (GLS) were suppressed by H₂O₂ treatments. Moreover, we observed miR-23a was upregulated by H₂O₂ treatments and overexpression of miR-23a significantly sensitized ARPE-19 cells to H₂O₂. Importantly, Western blotting and luciferase assay demonstrated GLS1 is a direct target of miR-23a in RPE cells. Inhibition of the H₂O₂-induced miR-23a by antagomiR protected the RPE cells from the oxidative stress-induced cell death. In addition, recovery of GLS1 expression in miR-23a overexpressed RPE cells rescued the H₂O₂-induced cell death. This study illustrated a mechanism for the protection of the oxidative-induced RPE cell death through the recovery of glutamine metabolism by inhibition of miR-23a, contributing to the discovery of novel targets and the developments of therapeutic strategies for the prevention of RPE cells from oxidative stress.     

Ginkgetin derived from Ginkgo biloba leaves enhances the therapeutic effect of cisplatin via ferroptosis-mediated disruption of the Nrf2/HO-1 axis in EGFR wild-type non-small-cell lung cancer

BackgroundCisplatin (DDP) is the first-in-class drug for advanced and non-targetable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A recent study indicated that DDP could slightly induce non-apoptotic cell death ferroptosis, and the cytotoxicity was promoted by ferroptosis inducer. The agents enhancing the ferroptosis may therefore increase the anticancer effect of DDP. Several lines of evidence supporting the use of phytochemicals in NSCLC therapy. Ginkgetin, a bioflavonoid derived from Ginkgo biloba leaves, showed anticancer effects on NSCLC by triggering autophagy. Ferroptosis can be triggered by autophagy, which regulates redox homeostasis. Thus, we aimed to elucidate the possible role of ferroptosis involved in the synergistic effect of ginkgetin and DDP in cancer therapy.MethodsThe promotion of DDP-induced anticancer effects by ginkgetin was examined via a cytotoxicity assay and western blot. Ferroptosis triggered by ginkgetin in DDP-treated NSCLC was observed via a lipid peroxidation assay, a labile iron pool assay, western blot, and qPCR. With ferroptosis blocking, the contribution of ferroptosis to ginkgetin + DDP-induced cytotoxicity, the Nrf2/HO-1 axis, and apoptosis were determined via a luciferase assay, immunostaining, chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP), and flow cytometry. The role of ferroptosis in ginkgetin + DDP-treated NSCLC cells was illustrated by the application of ferroptosis inhibitors, which was further demonstrated in a xenograft nude mouse model.ResultsGinkgetin synergized with DDP to increase cytotoxicity in NSCLC cells, which was concomitant with increased labile iron pool and lipid peroxidation. Both these processes were key characteristics of ferroptosis. The induction of ferroptosis mediated by ginkgetin was further confirmed by the decreased expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4, and a decreased GSH/GSSG ratio. Simultaneously, ginkgetin disrupted redox hemostasis in DDP-treated cells, as demonstrated by the enhanced ROS formation and inactivation of the Nrf2/HO-1 axis. Ginkgetin also enhanced DDP-induced mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) loss and apoptosis in cultured NSCLC cells. Furthermore, blocking ferroptosis reversed the ginkgetin-induced inactivation of Nrf2/HO-1 as well as the elevation of ROS formation, MMP loss, and apoptosis in DDP-treated NSCLC cells.ConclusionThis study is the first to report that ginkgetin derived from Ginkgo biloba leaves promotes DDP-induced anticancer effects, which can be due to the induction of ferroptosis.     

Differential protein profiling of primary versus immortalized human RPE cells identifies expression patterns associated with cytoskeletal remodeling and cell survival

Functional research of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) most often relies on utilization of RPE-derived cell lines in vitro. However, no studies about similarities and differences of the respective cell lines exist so far. Thus, we here analyze the proteome of the most popular RPE cell lines: ARPE-19 and hTERT and compare their constitutive and de novo synthesized protein expression profiles to human early passage retinal pigment epithelial cells (epRPE) by 2-D electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF peptide mass fingerprinting. In all three cell lines the baseline protein expression pattern corresponded well to the de novo synthesized cellular proteome. However, comparison of the protein profile of epRPE cells with that of hTERT-RPE cells revealed a higher abundance of proteins related to cell migration, adhesion, and extracellular matrix formation, paralleled by a down-regulation of proteins attributed to cell polarization, and showed an altered expression of detoxification enzymes in hTERT-RPE. ARPE-19 cells, however, exhibited a higher abundance of components of the microtubule cytoskeleton and differences in expression of proteins related to proliferation and cell death. epRPE cells, hTERT-RPE, and ARPE-19 therefore may respond differently with respect to certain functional properties, a finding that should prove valuable for future in vitro studies.     

Resveratrol reduces oxidation and proliferation of human retinal pigment epithelial cells via extracellular signal-regulated kinase inhibition

Epidemiological evidence suggests that moderate wine consumption and antioxidant-rich diets may protect against age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss among the elderly. Development of AMD and other retinal diseases, such as proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), is associated with oxidative stress in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), a cell layer responsible for maintaining the health of the retina by providing structural and nutritional support. We hypothesize that resveratrol, a red wine polyphenol, may be responsible, in part, for the health benefits of moderate red wine consumption on retinal disease. To test this hypothesis, the antioxidant and antiproliferative effects of resveratrol were examined in a human RPE cell line (designated ARPE-19). Cell proliferation was determined using the bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) assay, intracellular oxidation was assessed by dichlorofluorescein fluorescence, and activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade was measured by immunoblotting. Treatment with 50 and 100 micromol/L resveratrol significantly reduced proliferation of RPE cells by 10% and 25%, respectively (P<0.05). This reduction in proliferation was not associated with resveratrol-induced cytotoxicity. Resveratrol (100 micromol/L) inhibited basal and H2O2-induced intracellular oxidation and protected RPE cells from H2O2-induced cell death. The observed reduction in cell proliferation was associated with inhibition of mitogen activated protein kinase/ERK (MEK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK 1/2) activities at concentrations of resveratrol as low as 5 micromol/L. These results suggest that resveratrol can reduce oxidative stress and hyperproliferation of the RPE.     

Shuganning injection,a traditional Chinese patent medicine,induces ferroptosis and suppresses tumor growth in triple-negative breast cancer cells

BackgroundTriple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), lacking targeted therapies currently, is susceptible to ferroptosis, a recently defined form of cell death.PurposeTo evaluate the anticancer activity of Shuganning injection (SGNI), a traditional Chinese patent medicine, on TNBC cells; To elucidate the mechanism of SGNI induced ferroptosis.MethodsThe anticancer activity of SGNI was examined via in vitro cell proliferation assays and in vivo xenograft growth assay. Ferroptosis was determined by flow-cytometric analysis of lipid ROS, labile iron pool measurement, and propidium iodide exclusion assay. The dependency on heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) of SGNI induced ferroptosis was confirmed by genetic knockdown and pharmacological inhibition of the protein.ResultsSGNI selectively inhibited the proliferation of TNBC cells compared to non-TNBC breast cancer cells and normal cells. The cell death induced by SGNI in TNBC cells showed distinct morphology from apoptosis and could not be rescued by the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD(OMe)-FMK. On the other hand, SGNI induced cell death was blocked by the lipid ROS scavengers ferrostatin-1 and liproxstatin-1, the acyl-CoA synthetase long chain family member 4 inhibitor rosiglitazone, and the iron chelators 1,10-phenanthroline and deferoxamine. These data indicated that SGNI induced a ferroptotic cell death of TNBC cells. Mechanistically, SGNI induced ferroptosis was dependent on HO-1, which promotes intracellular labile iron pool accumulation, and was alleviated by HO-1 knockdown and inhibition by tin protoporphyrin IX. In line with the in vitro data, SGNI significantly inhibited the xenograft growth of TNBC cell line MD-MB-231 in nude mice.ConclusionCollectively, our study elaborates on a promising regimen for TNBC treatment through induction of ferroptosis by SGNI, a traditional Chinese patent medicine currently available in the clinic, which merits further investigation.     

Ginsenoside Rg-1 Protects Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) Cells from Cobalt Chloride (CoCl2) and Hypoxia Assaults

Severe retinal ischemia causes persistent visual impairments in eye diseases. Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells are located near the choroidal capillaries, and are easily affected by ischemic or hypoxia. Ginsenoside Rg-1 has shown significant neuroprotective effects. This study was performed to test the cytoprotective effect of ginsenoside Rg-1 in RPE cells against hypoxia and cobalt chloride (CoCl₂) assaults, and to understand the underlying mechanisms. We found that Rg-1 pre-administration significantly inhibited CoCl₂- and hypoxia-induced RPE cell death and apoptosis. Reactive oxygen specisis (ROS)-dependent p38 and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinases (JNK) MAPK activation was required for CoCl₂-induced RPE cell death, and Rg-1 pre-treatment significantly inhibited ROS production and following p38/JNK activation. Further, CoCl₂ suppressed pro-survival mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) activation in RPE cells through activating of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), while Rg-1 restored mTORC1 activity through inhibiting AMPK activation. CoCl₂-induced AMPK activation was also dependent on ROS production, and anti-oxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) prevented AMPK activation and RPE cell death by CoCl₂. Our results indicated that Rg-1 could be further investigated as a novel cell-protective agent for retinal ischemia.     

Identification of Age-associated Proteins and Functional Alterations in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelium

Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) has essential functions, such as nourishing and supporting the neural retina, and is of vital importance in the pathogenesis of age-related retinal degeneration. However, the exact molecular changes of RPE during aging remain poorly understood. Here, we isolated human primary RPE (hRPE) cells from 18 eye donors distributed over a wide age range (10–67 years old). A quantitative proteomic analysis was performed to analyze changes in their intracellular and secreted proteins. Age-group related subtypes and age-associated proteins were revealed and potential age-associated mechanisms were validated in ARPE-19 and hRPE cells. The results of proteomic data analysis and verifications suggest that RNF123- and RNF149-related protein ubiquitination plays an important role in protecting hRPE cells from oxidative damage during aging. In older hRPE cells, apoptotic signaling-related pathways were up-regulated, and endoplasmic reticulum organization was down-regulated both in the intracellular and secreted proteomes. Our work paints a detailed molecular picture of hRPE cells during the aging process and provides new insights into the molecular characteristics of RPE during aging and under other related clinical retinal conditions.     

Protective effects of 6-ureido/thioureido-2,4,5-trimethylpyridin-3-ols against 4-hydroxynonenal-induced cell death in adult retinal pigment epithelial-19 cells

Dysfunction or progressive degeneration of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) contributes in the initial pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) causing irreversible vision loss, which makes RPE the prime target of the disease. The present study aimed to identify compounds to protect 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE)-induced RPE cell death by inhibiting NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) activity, not just as free radical scavengers, using ARPE-19, a human adult retinal pigment epithelial cell line, as a RPE representative. Novel thirty-two 6-ureido/thioureido-2,4,5-trimethylpyridin-3-ol derivatives 17 were synthesized and tested. We found that there was a strong correlation between level of protective effect of compounds 17 against 4-HNE-induced APRE-19 cell death and that of inhibitory activity against 4-HNE-induced superoxide production, and that most of the compounds 17 showed minimal DPPH radical scavenging activity. Compound 17–28 showed the best protective activity against 4-HNE-induced superoxide production (79.5% inhibition) and cell death (85.1% recovery) at 10?μM concentration, which was better than that of VAS2870, a NOX2/4 inhibitor. In addition, compound 17–28 blocked 4-HNE-induced apoptosis of ARPE-19 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The results indicate that compound 17–28 may be a lead compound to develop AMD therapeutics.     

Effects of white light on beta-catenin signaling pathway in retinal pigment epithelium

This study investigated the effect of visible light exposure on retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway was investigated by immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis using human retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE-19) cells, which demonstrated that the exposure of white light induced the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Real time RT-PCR demonstrated that the mRNA of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and vimentin increased 2.5-4-fold and that of zona occludens 1 (ZO-1) decreased approximately 0.8-fold after white light exposure. The up-regulation of vimentin expression and the down-regulation of ZO-1 were evident by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Moreover, the ability of phagocytosis of ARPE-19 cells decreased 0.6-fold after light exposure. Together, white light exposure was supposed to induce the activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway, the changes in the expression markers of epithelial and mesenchymal cells in RPE cells, and the concomitant impairment of the ability of phagocytosis.