Enhancement of corneal epithelium cell survival, proliferation and migration by red light: Relevance to corneal wound healing.

The aim of the present study was to analyse how short wave blue and long wave red light differentially affect corneal epithelial (HCE-2) cells in culture. The corneal epithelium in situ is exposed to more blue light than in the past because of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) used for indoor lighting and computer, television and phone screens. Compared with cultures maintained in the dark, low intensity blue light, such as that emitted from computer screens, reduced the proliferation rate of HCE-2 cells and caused cell death at greater intensities in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, red light at high intensity slightly enhanced the proliferation rates of HCE-2 cells and importantly blunted the negative influence of blue light on cell survival when delivered after the insult. The toxic influence of blue light on HCE-2 cells involves mitochondrial dysfunction and the activation of AIF, p38-MAPK and HO-1. Importantly, red light blocks the effects caused by blue light and enhances mitochondrial function when delivered independently. The mechanism of action of red light is to directly stimulate mitochondrial function, suggested by staining with JC-1, which results in the activation of multiple biochemical mechanisms and the ability to blunt a variety of death pathways. As a consequence, even sodium azide-induced toxicity to HCE-2 cells in culture is blunted by red light. We interpret our studies on HCE-2 cell cultures to suggest that red light can be used prophylactically to protect the corneal epithelial in situ and is also able to counteract a variety of potential environmental insults to the tissue that includes blue light. This might be of particular significance when the cornea is already affected as, for example, in dry eye.

Near infra-red light attenuates corneal endothelial cell dysfunction in situ and in vitro.

In the present study mechanical damage to the corneal endothelium was induced by elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP, 140 mmHg, 60 min) to one eye of rats, delivered either in complete darkness or in the presence of red light (16.5 W/m2, 3000 lx, 625-635 nm). IOP raised in the dark revealed the endothelium to be damaged as staining for the gap junction protein ZO-1 was irregular in appearance with some cells displaced in position or lost to leave gaps or holes. This damage was clearly attenuated when red light was focused through the pupil during the insult of raised IOP. Moreover, staining of endothelium with JC-1 dye showed mitochondria to be activated by both elevated IOP and red light but the activation of mitochondria persisted longer for red light. We interpret this finding to suggest that raised IOP causes apoptosis of endothelial cells and that their mitochondria are activated in the initial stages of the process. In contrast, red light activates mitochondria to induce a protective mechanism to counteract the negative influence of raised IOP on endothelial cells. Evidence is provided to support this notion by the finding that red light stimulates mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase IV (COX IV). Moreover, mitochondria in corneal endothelial cell cultures are activated by red light, revealed by staining with JC-1, that results in an increased rate of proliferation and are also able to counteract toxic insults (sodium azide or cobalt chloride) to the cultures. The present studies therefore show that a non-toxic level of red light attenuates damage to the corneal endothelium both in situ and in vitro through action on COX IV located in mitochondria that results in an enhancement of a cell's survival mechanisms. The study provides proof of principle for the non-invasive use of red-light therapy to attenuate any dysfunctions associated with the corneal endothelium and so preserve maximum visual acuity.

Blue Light Action on Mitochondria Leads to Cell Death by Necroptosis.

Blue light impinging on the many mitochondria associated with retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in situ has the potential of eliciting necroptosis through an action on RIP1/RIP3 to stimulate RGC death in diseases like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Cells in culture die when exposed to blue light. The death process is mitochondria-dependent and is known to involve a decrease in the production of ATP, a generation of ROS, the activation of poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase, the stimulation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) as well as the up-regulation of heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Our present results show that blue light-induced activation of AIF is not directly linked with the stimulation of RIP1/RIP3. Down-regulation of RIP1/RIP3 did not influence AIF. AIF activation therefore appears to enhance the rate of necroptosis by a direct action on DNA breakdown, the end stage of necroptosis. This implies that silencing of AIF mRNA may provide a degree of protection to blue light insult. Also, necrostatin-1 attenuated an increased turnover of HO-1 mRNA caused by blue light to suggest an indirect inhibition of necroptosis, caused by the action of necrostatin-1 on RIP1/RIP3 to reduce oxidative stress. This is supported by the finding that gene silencing of RIP1 and RIP3 has no effect on HO-1. We therefore conclude that inhibitors of RIP kinase might be more specific than necrostatin-1 as a neuroprotective agent to blunt solely necroptosis caused by blue light.

The effect of visual blue light on mitochondrial function associated with retinal ganglions cells.

The retina is the only part of the central nervous system that is exposed to light radiation between 400 and 780 nm. Short wavelength light (SWL) ranging between 400 and 480 nm are absorbed maximally by chromophores located in mitochondria. An abundance of mitochondria are located in retinal ganglion cell (RGC) intraocular axons and photoreceptor inner segments and as a consequence SWL will impact these organelles. The purpose of this article is to summarise the experimental evidence for the possible negative effects of SWL on RGC mitochondria, in situ. The threat of damage to photoreceptor mitochondria may be less than to RGCs, since macular carotenoid, located chiefly in Henle's layer of the photoreceptor inner segment absorbs SWL. The article underlines the hypothesis that SWL contributes to RGC death when these neurones are not in an optimum homoeostatic state as is likely to occur in conditions such as glaucoma and possibly other types of pathologies and even old age. A case therefore exists for the idea that shielding RGCs to slow down visual loss in certain circumstances. This can theoretically be achieved with lenses that reduce transmission of SWL but specifically allow for maximal transmission of 479 nm light to stimulate melanopsin and maintain an optimum sleep/wake cycle.

Light- and sodium azide-induced death of RGC-5 cells in culture occurs via different mechanisms.

Previous studies have shown that light impinging on the retina in situ has the capacity to kill neuronal and non-neuronal cells in vitro by interacting directly with mitochondrial constituents. A number of fluorophores are associated with mitochondria which can potentially absorb different wave-lengths of light, including cytochrome oxidase. The aim of the present study was to compare the death mechanism of a light insult to RGC-5 cells in culture with that of sodium azide. Sodium azide's main toxic action is in inhibiting the function of cytochrome oxidase in the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Our studies showed that light and sodium azide kill RGC-5 cells via different mechanisms although some similarities do occur. Both inducers of cell death caused the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the expression of phosphatidylserine, the breakdown of DNA and the activation of p38 MAPK, resulting in its translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. However, light-induced cell death occurs via necroptosis, in that it was inhibited by necrostatin-1 and was caspase-independent. This was not the case for sodium azide, where the death process was caspase-dependent, occurred via apoptosis and was unaffected by necrostatin-1. Moreover, light caused an activation of the apoptosis inducing factor (AIF), c-Jun, JNK and HO-1, but it did not affect alpha fodrin or caspase-3. In contrast, sodium azide caused the activation of alpha fodrin and the stimulation of caspase-3 content without influencing AIF, c-Jun, JNK or HO-1. Therefore we conclude that light does not have a specific action on cytochrome oxidase in mitochondria to cause cell death.

WITHDRAWN: Reprint of: Mitochondria: Their role in ganglion cell death and survival in primary open angle glaucoma.

The Publisher regrets that this article is an accidental duplication of an article that has already been published, doi:10.1016/j.exer.2010.03.008. The duplicate article has therefore been withdrawn.

Mitochondria: Their role in ganglion cell death and survival in primary open angle glaucoma.

Retinal ganglion cell axons within the globe are functionally specialised being richly provided with many mitochondria. Mitochondria produce the high energy that is required for nerve conduction in the unmylenated part of the ganglion cell axons and for the maintenance of optimum neuronal function. We proposed that in the initiation of glaucoma (POAG) an alteration in the quality of blood flow dynamics in the optic nerve head results in sustained or intermittent ischemia of a defined nature. This results in normal mitochondrial function being negatively affected and as a consequence retinal ganglion cell function is compromised. Ganglion cells in this state are now susceptible to secondary insults which they would normally tolerate. One secondary insult to ganglion cell mitochondria in such a state might be light entering the eye. Other insults to the ganglion cells might come from substances such as glutamate, prostaglandins and nitric oxide released from astrocytes and microglia in the optic nerve head region. Such cascades of events initiated by ischemia to the optic nerve head region ultimately cause ganglion cells to die at different rates.

Blue light negatively affects the survival of ARPE19 cells through an action on their mitochondria and blunted by red light.

PURPOSE: To ascertain whether red light, known to enhance mitochondrial function, can blunt a blue light insult to ARPE19 cells in culture. METHODS: Semi-confluent ARPE19 cells cultured in 10% FBS were subjected to various regimes of treatment with blue (465-475 nm, 800 lux, 26 W/m2 ) and red (625-635 nm, 950 lux, 6.5 W/m2 ) light, as well as with toxins that inactivate specific enzymes associated with mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Cultures were then analysed for cell viability (MTT assay), mitochondrial status (JC-1), ROS formation, immunocytochemistry and the activation of specific proteins by electrophoresis/Western blotting. In addition, ARPE19 cells were cultured in polycarbonate membrane inserts in culture medium containing 1% FBS. Such cultures were exposed to cycles of red, blue or a combination of red and blue light for up to 6 weeks. Culture medium was changed and the trans-epithelium membrane resistance (TER) of the inserts-containing cells was measured twice weekly. RESULTS: ARPE19 cells in culture are affected negatively when exposed to blue light. This is indicated by a loss of viability, a depolarization of their mitochondria and a stimulation of ROS. Moreover, blue light causes an up-regulation of HO-1 and phospho-p-38-MAPK and a cleavage of apoptosis inhibitory factor, proteins which are all known to be activated during cell death. All of these negative effects of blue light are significantly blunted by the red light administered after the blue light insult in each case. ARPE19 cell loss of viability and mitochondrial potential caused by toxins that inhibit specific mitochondrial enzyme complexes was additive to an insult delivered by blue light in each case. After a time, ARPE19 cells in culture express the tight junction protein ZO-1, which is affected by blue light. The development of tight junctions between ARPE19 cells grown in inserts reached a steady peak of resistance after about 40 days and then increased very slightly over the next 40 days when still in darkness. However, maximum resistance was significantly attenuated, when cultures were treated with cycles of blue light after the initial 40 days in the dark and counteracted significantly when the blue light cycle insult was combined with red light. CONCLUSION: Blue light affects mitochondrial function and also the development tight junctions between ARPE19 cells, which results in a loss of cell viability. Importantly, red light delivered after a blue light insult is significantly blunted. These findings argue for the therapeutic use of red light as a noninvasive procedure to attenuate insults caused by blue light and other insults to retinal pigment epithelial cell mitochondria that are likely to occur in age-related macular degeneration.

Light affects mitochondria to cause apoptosis to cultured cells: possible relevance to ganglion cell death in certain optic neuropathies.

Retinal ganglion cell axons within the globe are laden with mitochondria that are unprotected from light (400-760 nm) impinging onto the retina. Light can be absorbed by mitochondrial enzymes such as cytochrome and flavin oxidases causing the generation of reactive oxygen species, and we have suggested this may pose a risk to ganglion cell survival if their energy state is compromised, as may be so in glaucoma or in Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy. Here, we demonstrate that light (400-760 nm) provokes apoptosis in cultured retinal ganglion-5 cells, and that this effect is enhanced in low serum, and attenuated by various antioxidants. Apoptosis is shown to be caspase independent, involving reactive oxygen species generation and the activation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 and apoptosis-inducing factor. We further show that light-induced apoptosis requires the participation of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. This was demonstrated by culturing fibroblasts (BJhTERT cells) in ethidium bromide for 40 days to deplete their mitochondrial DNA and perturb their mitochondrial respiratory chain function (BJhTERT rh0 cells). Only BJhTERT cells, with intact mitochondrial respiratory chain function were affected by light insult. Finally, we show that exposure of anaesthetized pigmented rat eye to white, but not red light, causes changes in the expression of certain retinal mRNAs (neurofilament light, Thy-1 and melanopsin) and optic nerve proteins (neurofilament light and tubulin), suggesting that ganglion cell survival is affected. Our findings support the proposal that the interaction of light, particularly the blue component, with intra-axonal ganglion cell mitochondria may be deleterious under certain circumstances, and suggest that reducing the light energy impinging upon the retina might benefit patients with certain optic neuropathies.

Expression of osteopontin in the rat retina: effects of excitotoxic and ischemic injuries.

PURPOSE: The cytokine osteopontin (OPN) has been localized to the retinal ganglion cell layer in the normal rodent retina, prompting the suggestion that it could serve as a useful marker for identifying and quantifying such neurons in models of retinal and optic nerve neurodegeneration. In the present study, we characterized the time course and cellular localization of OPN expression in the rat retina after excitotoxic and ischemic injuries. METHODS: Excitotoxicity and ischemia-reperfusion experiments were performed by using standard techniques. Rats were killed at various time points, and the retinas were removed either for mRNA analysis or to be processed for immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: In the normal retina, double-labeling immunofluorescence indicated that OPN is expressed by the majority of, if not all, RGCs, since OPN was associated with more cells than Brn-3, but was colocalized with Thy1.1. NMDA, kainic acid, and ischemia-reperfusion all caused decreases in the total retinal levels of Thy1 and Brn-3 mRNAs, reflecting injury to RGCs, but a dramatic, short-lived upregulation in OPN mRNA. The source of the increased OPN signal after excitotoxic-ischemic insults is unlikely to be injured RGCs, as no alteration in the intensity of OPN immunostaining in RGCs was apparent. Instead, additional cells, mostly contained within the IPL, were identified as positive for OPN. Double-labeling immunofluorescence showed that ED1 always colocalized with OPN in these cells, indicating their status as activated microglia. CONCLUSIONS: OPN is exclusively expressed by RGCs in the physiological retina, but in response to retinal neurodegeneration is synthesized de novo by endogenous, activated microglia.

Nicotinamide attenuates retinal ischemia and light insults to neurones.

The aim of the present studies was to determine whether nicotinamide is effective in blunting the negative influence of ischemia/reperfusion to the rat retina in situ and of light to transformed retinal ganglion cells (RGC-5 cells) in culture. Ischemia was delivered to the retina of one eye of rats by raising the intraocular pressure. Nicotinamide was administered intraperitoneally just before ischemia and into the vitreous immediately after the insult. Electroretinograms (ERGs) of both eyes were recorded before and 5 days after ischemia. Seven days after ischemia, retinas were analysed for the localization of various antigens. Retinal and optic nerve extracts were also prepared for analysis of specific proteins and mRNAs. Also, RGC-5 cells in culture were given a light insult (1000 lux, 48 and 96 h) and evidence for reduced viability and apoptosis determined by a variety of procedures. Nicotinamide was added to some cultures to see whether it reversed the negative effect of light. Ischemia/reperfusion to the retina affected the localization of Thy-1, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), the a- and b-wave amplitudes of the ERG, the content of various retinal and optic nerve proteins and mRNAs. Significantly, nicotinamide statistically blunted many of the effects induced by ischemia/reperfusion which included the activation of poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP). Light-induced apoptosis of RGC-5 cells in culture was attenuated by nicotinamide and the PARP inhibitor NU1025. The presented data show that nicotinamide attenuates injury to the retina and RGC-5 cells in culture caused by ischemia/reperfusion and by light, respectively. Evidence is provided to suggest that nicotinamide acts as a PARP inhibitor and possibly an antioxidant.

Orally administered epigallocatechin gallate attenuates retinal neuronal death in vivo and light-induced apoptosis in vitro.

The aim of this study was to provide support for epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a component of green tea, to be considered in the context for neuroprotection in glaucoma, where administration by an oral route is required for adequate penetration into the retina. Ischemia was delivered to one eye of a number of rats by raising the intraocular pressure. EGCG was present in the drinking water of half of the animals 3 days before ischemia and also during the next 5 days of reperfusion. The electroretinograms (ERGs) of both eyes from all rats were recorded before ischemia and 5 days following ischemia. Seven days after ischemia retinas from both eyes of all rats were either analysed for the localisation of various antigens or extracts prepared for analysis for the level of specific proteins and mRNAs. Ischemia/reperfusion to the retina affected a number of parameters. These included the localisation of Thy-1 and choline acetyltransferase, the a- and b-wave amplitudes of the ERG, the content of certain retinal and optic nerve proteins and various mRNAs. Significantly, EGCG statistically blunted many of the effects induced by ischemia/reperfusion which included the activation of caspases. These studies demonstrate conclusively that orally administered EGCG attenuates injury to the retina caused by ischemia/reperfusion where caspases were activated. Studies were also conducted on a cell line (RGC-5 cells) where it was shown that white light (1000 lx, 48 h)-induced apoptosis is caspase-independent and can be blunted by EGCG. The present studies support the view for the use of EGCG in the treatment of glaucoma based on the premise that any potential neuroprotective agent must be administered orally, have a safe profile and poses a broad spectrum of properties that allows various risk factors (that include ischemia and light) to be attenuated.

Oxidative-induced apoptosis to an immortalized ganglion cell line is caspase independent but involves the activation of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase and apoptosis-inducing factor.

The aim of the present work was to characterize the molecular basis of oxidative-induced death, a process that has been implicated in eye diseases like glaucoma, in RGC-5 cells, an immortalized retinal ganglion cell (RGC) line. Oxidative stress was induced by treatment of RGC-5 cells with hydrogen peroxide and compared to a known effect of a light insult (1000 lx, 400-760 nm). Hydrogen peroxide causes a loss of viability of RGC-5 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Loss of cell viability was by apoptosis characterized by breakdown of DNA (TUNEL method), presence of membrane phosphatidylserine (APOPercentage method), activation of PARP-1 and AIF. Oxidative stress caused a stimulation of ROS which reached maximum levels before optimum apoptosis. Hydrogen-peroxide-induced apoptosis did not result in an activation of caspase-3 and was unaffected by the caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-fmk. However, the PARP-1 inhibitor NU-1025 counteracted the effects of hydrogen peroxide and light. Evidence is provided to show that both forms of oxidative stress caused AIF to be cleaved with the product located to the cytosolic compartment. Light-induced apoptosis was attenuated by the presence of the mitochondrial uncoupler M3778 but potentiated by the presence of cobalt. In contrast, hydrogen-peroxide-induced apoptosis was unaffected by M3778 but attenuated by cobalt. The results show that oxidative stress caused by light is dependent on functional mitochondria and that the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis caused by hydrogen peroxide or light are similar but not identical.

The influence of visible light exposure on cultured RGC-5 cells.

PURPOSE: To determine the effects of visible light on normal or metabolically compromised cultured rat RGC-5 cells. METHODS: Cultured RGC-5 cells were exposed to different durations as well as intensities of optical radiation, filtered to exclude wavelengths below 400 nm. Some cells were also subjected to metabolic compromise by depriving them of serum (serum deprivation; SD). Treated cells were assayed for cell viability using the 3,(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction assay, for DNA breakdown by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated d-UTP-linked nick end labeling (TUNEL), apoptotic protein activation by immunoblotting, and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) with dihydroethidium. A subset of cells was treated with 100 pM rotenone as an alternative means to induce metabolic stress; this was to determine that the influence of light on compromised cells was not specific to serum-deprivation alone. RESULTS: Exposure to the light for 48 h activated both caspase-3 and Bcl-associated X-protein (Bax) in cultured RGC-5 cells. Furthermore, light (1000 or 4000 lux), SD, and rotenone caused minor but significant decreases in cellular MTT reduction. SD and light also led to cellular DNA breakdown, although only light caused ROS production. Light (48 h) significantly exacerbated the effect of SD on MTT reduction and DNA cleavage. Furthermore, the antioxidant, trolox, significantly blunted the detrimental influence of light on cell viability, increase in TUNEL-positive cells, and the generation of ROS. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to light was slightly, but significantly, harmful to healthy RGC-5 cells alone, but was much more toxic to those cells that were energetically compromised. Continuous light exposure can therefore detrimentally affect metabolically stressed RGC-5 cells. This may have implications for some ocular retinopathies such as glaucoma.

Müller cells in the healthy and diseased retina.

Müller glial cells span the entire thickness of the tissue, and ensheath all retinal neurons, in vertebrate retinae of all species. This morphological relationship is reflected by a multitude of functional interactions between neurons and Müller cells, including a 'metabolic symbiosis' and the processing of visual information. Müller cells are also responsible for the maintenance of the homeostasis of the retinal extracellular milieu (ions, water, neurotransmitter molecules, and pH). In vascularized retinae, Müller cells may also be involved in the control of angiogenesis, and the regulation of retinal blood flow. Virtually every disease of the retina is associated with a reactive Müller cell gliosis which, on the one hand, supports the survival of retinal neurons but, on the other hand, may accelerate the progress of neuronal degeneration: Müller cells protect neurons via a release of neurotrophic factors, the uptake and degradation of the excitotoxin, glutamate, and the secretion of the antioxidant, glutathione. However, gliotic Müller cells display a dysregulation of various neuron-supportive functions. This contributes to a disturbance of retinal glutamate metabolism and ion homeostasis, and causes the development of retinal edema and neuronal cell death. Moreover, there are diseases evoking a primary Müller cell insufficiency, such as hepatic retinopathy and certain forms of glaucoma. Any impairment of supportive functions of Müller cells, primary or secondary, must cause and/or aggravate a dysfunction and loss of neurons, by increasing the susceptibility of neurons to stressful stimuli in the diseased retina. On the contrary, Müller cells may be used in the future for novel therapeutic strategies to protect neurons against apoptosis (somatic gene therapy), or to differentiate retinal neurons from Müller/stem cells. Meanwhile, a proper understanding of the gliotic responses of Müller cells in the diseased retina, and of their protective vs. detrimental effects, is essential for the development of efficient therapeutic strategies that use and stimulate the neuron-supportive/protective-and prevent the destructive-mechanisms of gliosis.

Epigallocatechin gallate, an active ingredient from green tea, attenuates damaging influences to the retina caused by ischemia/reperfusion.

The aim of this study was to examine whether the antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a catechin-base flavonoid derived from green tea protects retina neurones in situ from ischemia/reperfusion and in vitro from an oxidative stress insult of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)). Similar results were obtained when rats were injected by two different regimes of EGCG. Ischemia was delivered by raising the intraocular pressure above the systolic blood pressure (120 mm Hg) generally for 45 min. The electroretinogram (ERG) was measured prior to ischemia and 5 days after reperfusion. Rats were killed 7 days after ischemia and processed for immunohistochemistry and for determining of mRNA and protein levels by RT-PCR and electrophoresis/western blotting, respectively. In addition, optic nerves 7 days after ischemia were subjected to protein analysis. Ischemia/reperfusion caused a significant reduction in the a- and b-wave amplitudes of the ERGs, a decrease in retinal ganglion cell and photoreceptor specific proteins and mRNAs, an increase in retinal caspase-3 mRNA and protein, an increase in retinal caspase-8 mRNA, an increase in retinal GFAP protein and mRNA and a decrease in optic nerve proteins associated with ganglion cell axons. All these changes were significantly counteracted by EGCG. Moreover, EGCG clearly blunted ischemia/reperfusion-induced changes in the localisation of retinal Thy-1 and ChAT immunoreactivities. EGCG also significantly reduced the apoptosis to retinal ganglion cells (RGC-5 cells) in culture caused by H(2)O(2). The results of the study demonstrate that EGCG provides protection to retinal neurones from oxidative stress and ischemia/reperfusion.

Visible light affects mitochondrial function and induces neuronal death in retinal cell cultures.

The aim of this study was to provide "proof of principle" for the hypothesis that light would have a detrimental influence on ganglion cells in certain situations, like in glaucoma, by directly impinging on the many mitochondria in their axons within the globe. In this study primary rat retinal cultures and freshly isolated liver mitochondria were exposed to light (400-760 nm; 500-4000 lux) as entering the eye. For culture assessment, 3,(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and 4-[3-(-iodophenyl)-2-(4-nitrophenyl)-2H-5-tetzolio]-1,3-benzene disulfonate (WST-1) reduction assays were used to assess cell and mitochondrial viability, respectively. Furthermore, cultures were stained for reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA breakdown, numbers of GABA-immunoreactive (IR) cells and caspase-3 content to provide information concerning the effect of light on neuronal survival. Uptake of (3)H-GABA by autoradiography was also used, to assess the effects of light on the energy status of neurons. Light, in an intensity-dependent and trolox-inhibitable manner, reduced cell viability, affected mitochondrial function, increased the number of TUNEL-positive cells, decreased the numbers of GABA-IR neurons and enhanced labelling for ROS. These effects were all exacerbated by the absence of serum. There was also an increased caspase-3 protein content and a reduction of (3)H-GABA uptake in light- compared with dark-treated cultures. These findings support the hypothesis that light can affect mitochondria which could lead to neuronal apoptosis if the energetic status of these neurons is already compromised.

Protein kinase C-mediated modulation of glutamate transporter activity in rat retina.

It has previously been shown that inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC) attenuate retinal glutamate uptake in situ. The aim of the current study was to determine whether PKCdelta-mediated inhibition differentially reduces the transport of glutamate into retinal Müller cells when compared with retinal neurons. The influence of two different types of PKC inhibitors on the uptake of [3H]D-aspartate was therefore compared in the intact retina, mixed retinal cultures, and Müller cell-enriched retinal cultures. It was found that 25 microM of the pan-isoform PKC inhibitor, chelerythrine, reduced [3H]D-aspartate uptake by 78%, 71%, and 68% in isolated retinas, mixed neuronal/glial cultures, and Müller cell-enriched cultures, respectively. Importantly, 20 microM of the PKCdelta-selective inhibitor rottlerin also reduced the uptake of D-aspartate to similar extents in all three systems, and the reductions were statistically similar to those found for the pan-specific PKC inhibitor. Neither pan-isoform nor PKCdelta-selective activators stimulated glutamate uptake in either culture system or the intact retina. The current results suggest that specific PKC inhibitors are quantitatively similar in reducing the uptake of glutamate into retinal neurons and Müller cells.

Visual light effects on mitochondria: The potential implications in relation to glaucoma.

Light of different wave-lengths have the potential to interact with four major mitochondrial protein complexes that are involved in the generation of ATP. Neurones of the central nervous system have an absolute dependence on mitochondrial generated ATP. Laboratory studies show that short-wave or blue light (400-480nm) that impinges on the retina affect flavin and cytochrome constituents associated with mitochondria to decrease the rate of ATP formation, stimulate ROS and results in cell death. This suggests that blue light could potentially have a negative influence on retinal ganglion cell (RGC) mitochondria that are abundant and not shielded by macular pigments as occurs for photoreceptor mitochondria. This might be of significance in glaucoma where it is likely that RGC mitochondria are already affected and therefore be more susceptible to blue light. Thus simply filtering out some natural blue light from entering the eye might be beneficial for the treatment of glaucoma. Long-wave or red light (650-800nm) affects mitochondrial complex IV or cytochrome oxidase to increase the rate of formation of ATP and ROS causing the generation of a number of beneficial factors. Significantly, laboratory studies show that increasing the normal amount of natural red light reaching rat RGC mitochondria in situ, subjected to ischemia, proved to be beneficial. A challenge now is to test whether extra red light delivered to the human retina can slow-down RGC loss in glaucoma. Such a methodology has also the advantage of being non-invasive. One very exciting possibility might be in the production of a lens where solar UV light is convertes to add to the amount of natural red light entering the eye.

The beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist metipranolol blunts zinc-induced photoreceptor and RPE apoptosis.

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of zinc on retinal cells at concentrations at which it is known to cause oxidative stress. Furthermore, the effects of metipranolol, known to prevent retinal damage, and of other antiglaucoma drugs were determined on zinc-injured retinal cells. METHODS: Lipid peroxidation assays were conducted on rat brain and bovine retina-retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) membrane preparations. Immunohistochemistry, immunoblot analysis and the terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP-linked nick-end labeling (TUNEL) procedure determined the effects of zinc with or without trolox or metipranolol on photoreceptor death in situ. The effect of treatments on cultured RPE cells was analyzed using cell viability assays, immunoblot analysis, and the TUNEL procedure. RESULTS: Zinc-induced lipid peroxidation of rat brain and bovine retina-RPE membranes, although the effect of the latter was of a (twofold) greater magnitude. Both effects, however, were similarly attenuated by metipranolol, desacetylmetipranolol, and trolox. Antiglaucoma drugs other than metipranolol had no effect. Intraocular injection of 150 microM zinc and treatment of cultured RPE cells with zinc led to mainly photoreceptor apoptosis and apoptotic death of RPE cells (50% death at 18 microM rising to 10% at 50 microM), respectively. Zinc-induced apoptosis of cultured RPE cells and photoreceptors were attenuated only by metipranolol and trolox. CONCLUSIONS: The combined data suggest that oxidative injury to RPE cells and photoreceptors may be caused by elevated levels of zinc in diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and that metipranolol may act as an efficacious antioxidant to blunt this process.