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Neuroprotective effects of idebenone on hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative damage in retinal ganglion cells-5

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Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the neuroprotective effect of idebenone against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative damage in retinal ganglion cells-5 (RGC-5 cells).

Methods

RGC-5 cells were pre-treated with various idebenone concentrations (5, 10, and 20 µM) for 12 h and were then subjected to 300 µM H2O2 for a further 12 h. Apoptosis in RGC-5 was measured by flow cytometry. The changes of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were detected by JC-1 staining. Autophagy in RGC-5 cells was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Western blots were used to measure the expression of autophagy-related protein light chain 3 (LC3), Beclin-1, and the release of Cytochrome c (Cyt-c).

Results

Flow cytometry showed that the apoptosis rates in the normal control group, H2O2 group, and idebenone groups were 6.48 ± 0.55%, 27.3 ± 0.51%, 22.8 ± 0.52%, 15.45 ± 0.81%, and 12.59 ± 0.58%, respectively (F = 559.7, P < 0.0001). After incubation with H2O2, the number of autophagosomes increased significantly, whereas it was decreased in the idebenone groups. After incubation of RGC-5 cells with H2O2, MMP levels were significantly decreased, while idebenone could prevent the decrease in MMP levels. Compared with that in the normal control group, LC3 II/I, the expression levels of Beclin-1 and Cyt-c were increased significantly in the H2O2 group (P < 0.05). Compared with that in the H2O2 group, LC3 II/I, the expression of Beclin-1 and Cyt-c was significantly decreased in idebenone groups (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Idebenone protects RGC-5 cells against H2O2-induced oxidative damage by reducing mitochondrial damage and autophagic activity.

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Acknowledgements

All the authors have made contributions to the experiment and to the drafting and revision of articles.

Funding

This work was supported by grant from the Natural Science Foundation of Xiamen (3502Z20227277) and the National Nature Science Foundation of China (Grants 81800844).

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Author notes

  1. Yuping Wang

    Present address: Department of Ophthalmology, Jing’an District Central Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

    Yuping Wang, Jing Wang, Xi Zhang, Yifan Feng & Yuanzhi Yuan

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Hospital (Xiamen), Fudan University, Xiamen, China

    Yuanzhi Yuan

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  1. Yuping Wang
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Contributions

Yuanzhi Yuan, Yuping Wang and Yifan Feng designed the experiments. Yuping Wang and Jing Wang did the experiments and wrote the main manuscript text. Xi Zhang prepared all the figures. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Yifan Feng or Yuanzhi Yuan.

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Yuping Wang and Jing Wang contributed equally to this work.

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Wang, Y., Wang, J., Zhang, X. et al. Neuroprotective effects of idebenone on hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative damage in retinal ganglion cells-5. Int Ophthalmol 43, 3831–3839 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-023-02831-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-023-02831-x

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