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PMID: 12675480 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Aging of cultured retinal pigment epithelial cells: oxidative reactions, lipofuscin formation and blue light damage.

Documenta ophthalmologica. Advances in ophthalmology ·Vol. 106 ·No. 1 ·2003-01-00 ·Pages 13-6

Nilsson SE, Sundelin SP, Wihlmark U, Brunk UT

Abstract

This report reviews our experimental work on cultured retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, fed native or UV-irradiated photoreceptor outer segments (POS). We showed that significantly more lipofuscin (LF) was formed in cells cultured in 40% oxygen than in cells cultured in 8% oxygen, indicating an involvement of oxidative mechanisms in LF formation. The antioxidants alpha-tocopherol, lycopene, zeaxanthin and lutein significantly reduced LF formation. RPE cells high in melanin content exhibited significantly less formation of LF than cells low in or devoid of melanin, suggesting that melanin acts as an effective antioxidant. The phagocytic capacity of LF-loaded RPE cells was significantly reduced compared to that of unloaded control cells, indicating that LF-loaded RPE cells may be unable to serve the photoreceptors sufficiently regarding phagocytosis of shed outer segment tips. Blue light irradiation destabilized lysosomal membranes in LF-loaded RPE cells and significantly reduced the viability of such cells compared to unloaded, irradiated control cells. These results may be of significance in relation to the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

MeSH Terms
Animals Antioxidants/pharmacology Carotenoids/pharmacology Cattle Cells, Cultured Cellular Senescence/physiology Lipofuscin/biosynthesis Lutein/pharmacology Lycopene Melanins/metabolism Oxygen/pharmacology Phagocytosis/drug effects,physiology Pigment Epithelium of Eye/drug effects,metabolism,radiation effects Rabbits Rod Cell Outer Segment/physiology,radiation effects Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances/metabolism Xanthophylls Zeaxanthins alpha-Tocopherol/pharmacology beta Carotene/analogs & derivatives,pharmacology
Chemicals
Antioxidants Lipofuscin Melanins Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances Xanthophylls Zeaxanthins beta Carotene Carotenoids alpha-Tocopherol Oxygen Lycopene Lutein
Authors & Affiliations
4 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Nilsson Sven Erik G
Department of Ophthalmology, Linköping University, SE-58185 Linköping, Sweden. svenerik.nilsson@eye.liu.se
Sundelin Staffan P
Wihlmark Ulf
Brunk Ulf T
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Article Info
Journal
Documenta ophthalmologica. Advances in ophthalmology
Abbr.
Doc Ophthalmol
ISSN
0012-4486
DOI
10.1023/a:1022419606629
Email
svenerik.nilsson@eye.liu.se
Published
2003-01-00
Pages
13-6
Language
English
Region
Netherlands
NLM ID
0370667
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1023/a:1022419606629 View journal details
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