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Idebenone prevents retinal pigmentepithelial cells from oxidative stress and apoptotic cell death by stabilizing BAX/Bcl‐2 ratio
Author(s) -
AREND N,
LAUBICHLER P,
WOLF A,
HARITOGLOU C,
ULBIG MW,
KAMPIK A,
KERNT M
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2011.346.x
Subject(s) - idebenone , oxidative stress , viability assay , apoptosis , programmed cell death , western blot , in vivo , chemistry , pharmacology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , biochemistry , genetics , gene
Purpose Age related macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of blindness. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of this disease. This study investigates the possible anti‐apoptotic and cytoprotective effects of idebenone on retinal pigmentepithelial cells (ARPE19) under oxidative stress. Methods ARPE19 were treated with 1 to 100 µM idebenone. Cell viability (tetrazolium dye‐reduction assay and live‐dead assay) and expression of BAX and Bcl‐2, two key modulators of apoptosis, and their mRNA were determined after 48 h and after H2O2 treatment. Results Idebenone concentrations from 1 to 20 µM showed no toxic effects ARPE19. Doses of 5 and 7.5 µM were most effective in increasing cell viability after H2O2 treatment. Further more RT‐PCR and Western blot analysis yielded an increased expression of Bcl‐2 and a decrease of BAX compared to those cells that were treated with H2O2 only. Conclusion In this study idebenone reduced oxidative stress and apoptotic cell death in cultured ARPE19 in vitro. Our results suggest that idebenone may help to protect these cells in vivo, and therefore might be helpful in preventing the progression of geographic atrophy in age related macular degeneration.