TY - GEN
T1 - Mitochondrial decay and impairment of antioxidant defenses in aging RPE cells
AU - He, Yuan
AU - Tombran-Tink, Joyce
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - In the eye, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is exposed to a highly oxidative environment, partly due to elevated oxygen partial pressure from the choriocapillaris and to digestion of polyunsaturated fatty acid laden photoreceptor outer segments. Here we examined the vulnerability of RPE cells to stress and changes in their mitochondria with increased chronological aging and showed that there is greater sensitivity of the cells to oxidative stress, alterations in their mitochondrial number, size, shape, matrix density, cristae architecture, and membrane integrity as a function of age. These features correlate with reduced cellular levels of ATP, ROS, and [Ca2+] c, lower Δψm, increased [Ca2+]m sequestration and decreased expression of mtHsp70, UCP2, and SOD3. Mitochondrial decay, bioenergetic deficiencies, and weakened antioxidant defenses in RPE cells occur as early as age 62. With increased severity, these conditions may significantly reduce RPE function in the retina and contribute to age related retinal anomalies.
AB - In the eye, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is exposed to a highly oxidative environment, partly due to elevated oxygen partial pressure from the choriocapillaris and to digestion of polyunsaturated fatty acid laden photoreceptor outer segments. Here we examined the vulnerability of RPE cells to stress and changes in their mitochondria with increased chronological aging and showed that there is greater sensitivity of the cells to oxidative stress, alterations in their mitochondrial number, size, shape, matrix density, cristae architecture, and membrane integrity as a function of age. These features correlate with reduced cellular levels of ATP, ROS, and [Ca2+] c, lower Δψm, increased [Ca2+]m sequestration and decreased expression of mtHsp70, UCP2, and SOD3. Mitochondrial decay, bioenergetic deficiencies, and weakened antioxidant defenses in RPE cells occur as early as age 62. With increased severity, these conditions may significantly reduce RPE function in the retina and contribute to age related retinal anomalies.
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U2 - 10.1007/978-1-4419-1399-9_20
DO - 10.1007/978-1-4419-1399-9_20
M3 - Conference contribution
C2 - 20238015
AN - SCOPUS:79959593126
SN - 9781441913982
T3 - Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
SP - 165
EP - 183
BT - Retinal Degenerative Diseases
A2 - Anderson, Robert
A2 - Mandal, Nawajes
A2 - Hollyfield, Joe
A2 - LaVail, Matthew
ER -