Abbreviations: AMD, age-related macular degeneration; BSA, bovine serum albumin; CHOP, C/EBP homology protein; CtBP2, C-terminal binding protein 2; ER, endoplasmic reticulum; GRP78/BiP, glucoseregulated protein 78kDa/Binding immunoglobulin protein, INL, inner nuclear layer; IPL, inner plexiform layer; LC3B, microtubule-associated protein light chain 3B; mTOR, mammalian target of rapamycin; ONL, outer nuclear layer; OPL, outer nuclear layer; PBS, phosphate buffered saline; PNA, peanut agglutinin; p62/SQSTM1; nucleoporin p62/sequestosom 1; PSD-95, postsynaptic density protein 95; rd1, retinal degeneration 1; RPE, retinal pigment epithelium; UPS, ubiquitin-proteasome system; 2
AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate rod and cone photoreceptor degeneration in organotypic cultures of adult porcine retina. Our hypothesis was that the photoreceptors accumulate opsins, which, together with exposure to cyclic dim light illumination, induce autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER-stress) to overcome damaging protein overload. For this purpose, retinas were cultured for 48 h and 72 h during which they were illuminated with dim light for 8 h/day; specimens were analyzed by means of immunohistochemistry, western blot and transmission electron microscopy. ER-stress and photoreceptor degeneration was observed in conventionally cultured retinas. The additional stress in the form of dim light illumination for 8 h/day resulted in increased levels of the ER-stress markers GRP78/BiP and CHOP, as well as increased level of active caspase-12. Increased autophagic processes in cone and rod photoreceptors were detected by LC3B-II increases and occurrence of autophagosomes at the ultrastructural level. Illumination also resulted in altered protein expression for autophagy inducers such as p62 and Beclin-1. Moreover, there was a decrease in phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), which further indicate an increase of autophagy. Rod and cone photoreceptors in retinas from a diurnal animal that were exposed to dim light illumination in vitro displayed autophagy and ER-stress processes. In particular, these processes resulted in decreased protein levels for rhodopsin.3