Improved Effect of a Mitochondria-Targeted Antioxidant on Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Oxidative Stress in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells

Abstract

Background: Oxidative damage in retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) cells contributes to the development of age-related macular degeneration, which is among the leading causes of visual loss in elderly people. In the present study, we evaluated the protective role of TPP-Niacin against the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress to RPE cells. Methods: The cellular viability, lactate dehydrogenase, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and mitochondrial function were determined in the retinal ARPE-19 cells under the treatment with H2O2 or pre-treatment with TPP-Niacin. The expression level of mitochondrial related genes and some transcription factors were assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: TPP-Niacin significantly improved cell viability reduction, reduced ROS generation and increased the antioxidant enzymes in H2O2-treated ARPE-19 cells. Mitochondrial dysfunction from H2O2-induced oxidative stress was also significantly diminished by the TPP-Niacin treatment, reduced generation of ROS, an ameliorated reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and an upregulated mitochondrial associated gene. In addition, TPP-Niacin markedly enhanced the expression of transcription factors (PGC-1α and NRF2) and antioxidant associated genes (especially, HO-1 and NQO-1). Conclusion: We proved the protective effect of TPP-Niacin against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in RPE cells. TPP-Niacin is believed to have played a protective role against mitochondrial dysfunction by up-regulating antioxidant-related genes such as PGC-1α, NRF2, HO-1 and NQO-1 in RPE cells.

Systemic epigallocatechin gallate protects against retinal degeneration and hepatic oxidative stress in the P23H-1 rat

“…The free radicals formed also damage the lysosomes of retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells, which lose their capacity to degrade photoreceptor outer segment material (Kim et al, 2021). This oxidative stress has been related to ischemic retinopathy (Rivera et al, 2017) and other neurodegenerative diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and RP (Perdices et al, 2018;Albokhary et al, 2021;Tisi et al, 2021).…”