Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of central vision loss in the elderly with less effective treatment, especially for dry AMD (90% of AMD). Although the etiology of this disease is not well elucidated, increasing evidences indicate that excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) impairing the physiological functions of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells may be one of the main causes. Therefore, it could be a great strategy to find some drugs that can effectively protect RPE cells from oxidative damage which is desired to treat and slow the process of AMD. In the present study, a well-known traditional Chinese medicine berberine (BBR) was found to suppress hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative damage in D407 cells, a human RPE cell line. Pre-treatment of D407 cells with BBR significantly suppressed H2O2-induced cell apoptosis by restoring abnormal changes in nuclear morphology, preventing the decline of mitochondrial membrane potential, reducing lactate dehydrogenase release and inhibiting caspase 3/7 activities induced by H2O2. Western blot analysis showed that BBR was able to stimulate the phosphorylation/activation of AMPK in a time- and dose-dependent manner in D407 cells, while treatment of cells with AMPK pathway inhibitor Compound C, or knockdown of the AMPK by specific siRNA blocked the effect of BBR. Similar results were obtained in primary cultured human RPE cells. Taken together, these results demonstrated that BBR was able to protect RPE cells against oxidative stress via the activation of AMPK pathway. Our findings also indicate the potential application of BBR in AMD treatment.
Highlights
One of the most devastating retinal disease is age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is the major cause of blindness throughout the world
We found that H2O2 (100 μM) exposure lead to the collapse of the ∆ψm and increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, while pre-treatment of BBR significantly reduced these abnormal changes in D407 RPE cells
During treatment with H2O2, cells are exposed to high concentrations of ROS, which disrupts the balance between oxidants and antioxidants, resulting in apoptosis and/or necrosis of cells
Summary
One of the most devastating retinal disease is age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is the major cause of blindness throughout the world. The prominent characteristic of AMD is the loss of central vision due to the progressive degeneration of the macula [1,2,3]. Continued intraocular injections are the current treatment strategy to prevent progression of wet AMD (10%) [6]. The dry AMD still lacks efficient treatment and calls for the development of effective therapies. 2t.oR3esμuMltsdid not cause any cytotoxicity in D407 cells compared to the control group. These concentrations of BBR were chosen in further experiments. To investigate the protective effects of BBR on H2O2-induced D407 cell death, D407 cells were treated with BBR for 2 h before being exposed t2o.2H. B2OB2RfoArtt2e4nuha.teTdhHe 2rOes2u-Ilnt dfurocmed AMpToTptoassisaiyn Dsh4o0w7 eCdeltlshat treatment of 100 μM H2O2 resulted in a sapFHHBitirgtgBoooenuRtenwiercfucD(eeihFctavsi41aitvteg0eDner3ud7t,,3artciHe3rhcnee4tel22id2lwsOv)s.u.eTih2ptcB-cyhitriBchnieeoohRatdrfnrnepueBigstacroBsueeteefeRsl-dltdtfcsirwnceedwsedlaahilldituslotmvhcawvnieelioaBsedanbtoBdbtiblRiclewtliyohaitwtyindaHyt,ftheti2lr1rowoO3em0snh02fμseuuewMμdrircneMtlebheaBrayaeseHBrrtcnRph2meooOrexnfeotpo2cl-rsaoretpcecrns2aeehtetaunaordhttsalemwoettsoiddgihoegei1nnercnh0enta-iym0dfltiwdecchμaprhaierMotnaekhgcnntaeHledgby1lnlel2esearsOnoeswntrid2enumeuf(3crDoLcelarDeeμ4ndpi20MHnc4r7Heeo)hcr-naB2te,Ord(sBlaFelse2nsRaai-n.gidtynseusaddasrittgseuiawonsci1nnhieiCftedoihicd)nw.aL3wncnTDμethiillHMtnylehs. leakage
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