Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a multifactorial retinal disease characterized by a progressive loss of central vision. Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) degeneration is a critical event in AMD. It has been associated to A2E accumulation, which sensitizes RPE to blue light photodamage. Mitochondrial quality control mechanisms have evolved to ensure mitochondrial integrity and preserve cellular homeostasis. Particularly, mitochondrial dynamics involve the regulation of mitochondrial fission and fusion to preserve a healthy mitochondrial network. The present study aims to clarify the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying photodamage-induced RPE cell death with particular focus on the involvement of defective mitochondrial dynamics. Light-emitting diodes irradiation (445 ± 18 nm; 4.43 mW/cm 2 ) significantly reduced the viability of both unloaded and A2E-loaded human ARPE-19 cells and increased reactive oxygen species production. A2E along with blue light, triggered apoptosis measured by MC540/PI-flow cytometry and activated caspase-3. Blue light induced mitochondrial fusion/fission imbalance towards mitochondrial fragmentation in both non-loaded and A2E-loaded cells which correlated with the deregulation of mitochondria-shaping proteins level (OPA1, DRP1 and OMA1). To our knowledge, this is the first work reporting that photodamage causes mitochondrial dynamics deregulation in RPE cells. This process could possibly contribute to AMD pathology. Our findings suggest that the regulation of mitochondrial dynamics may be a valuable strategy for treating retinal degeneration diseases, such as AMD.
As a part of our project aimed at developing new safe chemotherapeutic and chemoprophylactic agents against tropical diseases, fluorine-containing drugs structurally related to 4-phenoxyphenoxyethyl thiocyanate (1) were designed, synthesized and evaluated as antiproliferative agents against Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite responsible of American trypanosomiasis (Chagas' disease) and Toxoplasma gondii, the etiological agent of toxoplasmosis. This thiocyanate derivative had previously proven to be an effective agent against T. cruzi proliferation. Fluorine-containing ©2007 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. *Corresponding author. Tel.: +54 11 4576 3346; fax: +54 11 4576-3385; e-mail: E-mail: jbr@qo.fcen.uba.ar . Publisher's Disclaimer: This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. It multiplies within the insect gut as an epimastigote form and is spread as a non-dividing metacyclic trypomastigote from the insect feces by contamination of intact mucosa or wounds produced by the blood-sucking activity of the vector. In the mammalian host, T. cruzi proliferates as the intracellular amastigote form, which is next released into the bloodstream as a non-dividing highly infective trypomastigote that can either invade other tissues or can infect the respective Chagas' disease vectors closing the cycle. 3-5 Transmission via the placenta or by blood transfusion is the responsible mechanism for the occurrence of Chagas' disease in developed ctries where the disease is not endemic. 6,7 NIH Public AccessToxoplasmosis is caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a complex eukaryotic parasite that has adopted an essential intracellular survival strategy. 5,8 Most of T.gondii infections are asymptomatic. There are two asexual forms that can cause disease in humans. The tachyzoite form, which can invade all types of cells and divides rapidly leading to cell death, and the bradyzoite form that divides slowly and forms cysts in muscle and brain. 9The existing chemotherapy either for Chagas' disease or for toxoplasmosis remains deficient. The chemotherapy for Chagas' disease is based on two drugs empirically discovered, nifurtimox, now discontinued, and benznidazole. Although both of these compounds are able to cure at least 50% of recent infections as indicated by the disappearance of symptoms, and reduction of parasitemia and serology, they present severe side effects. 10,11 The standard treatment against T. gondii infections consists in the combination of pyrimethamine, which inhibits the enzymatic activity of dihydrofolate reductase, and sulfadiazine, whose target is dihydropteroate synthetase. 12 This thera...
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