EPO-R76E Enhances Retinal Pigment Epithelium Viability Under Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress Induced by Paraquat.

ABSTRACT: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss, primarily driven by oxidative stress-induced degeneration of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Erythropoietin (EPO), a hematopoietic cytokine with neuroprotective properties, has been shown to reduce apoptosis and retinal degeneration. In this study, we examined the cytoprotective role of a non-erythropoietic EPO variant, EPO-R76E, in suppressing oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction related to oxidative stress in RPE cells. Stable ARPE-19 cell lines expressing EPO-R76E were generated via lentiviral transduction and exposed to paraquat to induce oxidative stress. Oxidative stress was induced using paraquat. EPO-R76E expression conferred increased cell viability and resistance to mitochondrial da

SUBMITTER: Alam J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12651157 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature