Mitochondria impairment correlates with increased sensitivity of aging RPE cells to oxidative stress

Yuan He, Jian Ge, Janice M. Burke, Roland L. Myers, Zhi Z. Dong, Joyce Tombran-Tink

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

37 Scopus citations

Abstract

Impairment of mitochondria function and cellular antioxidant systems are linked to aging and neurodegenerative diseases. In the eye, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is exposed to a highly oxidative environment that contributes to age-related visual dysfunction. Here, we examined changes in mitochondrial function in human RPE cells and sensitivity to oxidative stress with increased chronological age. Primary RPE cells from young (9-20)-, mid-age (48-60)-, and g̃;60 (62-76)-year-old donors were grown to confluency and examined by electron microscopy and flow cytometry using several mitochondrial functional assessment tools. Susceptibility of RPE cells to H2O2 toxicity was determined by lactate dehydrogenase and cytochrome c release, as well as propidium iodide staining. Reactive oxygen species, cytoplasmic Ca 2+ [Ca2+]c, and mitochondrial Ca2+ [Ca2+]m levels were measured using

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)92-108
Number of pages17
JournalJournal of Ocular Biology, Diseases, and Informatics
Volume3
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2010

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Ophthalmology
  • Genetics

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