Abstract
Background: Oxidative damage in retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) cells contributes to the development of age-related macular degeneration, which is among the leading causes of visual loss in elderly people. In the present study, we evaluated the protective role of TPP-Niacin against the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress to RPE cells. Methods: The cellular viability, lactate dehydrogenase, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and mitochondrial function were determined in the retinal ARPE-19 cells under the treatment with H2O2 or pre-treatment with TPP-Niacin. The expression level of mitochondrial related genes and some transcription factors were assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: TPP-Niacin significantly improved cell viability reduction, reduced ROS generation and increased the antioxidant enzymes in H2O2-treated ARPE-19 cells. Mitochondrial dysfunction from H2O2-induced oxidative stress was also significantly diminished by the TPP-Niacin treatment, reduced generation of ROS, an ameliorated reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and an upregulated mitochondrial associated gene. In addition, TPP-Niacin markedly enhanced the expression of transcription factors (PGC-1α and NRF2) and antioxidant associated genes (especially, HO-1 and NQO-1). Conclusion: We proved the protective effect of TPP-Niacin against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in RPE cells. TPP-Niacin is believed to have played a protective role against mitochondrial dysfunction by up-regulating antioxidant-related genes such as PGC-1α, NRF2, HO-1 and NQO-1 in RPE cells.