Simvastatin protects photoreceptors from oxidative stress induced by all-trans-retinal, through the up-regulation of interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Simvastatin is a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase inhibitor with multiple targets and effects. It protects neurons in the brain, but its protective effects on photoreceptors are unclear. In this study, we evaluated the neuroprotective effect of simvastatin on photoreceptors exposed to stress induced by all-trans-retinal (atRAL).

Experimental approach

AlamarBlue and LDH assays were used to evaluate the viability and metabolic activity of Y79 cells (a retinoblastoma cell line) exposed to atRAL-induced stress with or without simvastatin pretreatment. Changes in cellular ROS were evaluated using flow cytometry and mitochondrial stress markers JC-1 and HSP60. Changes in levels of two photoreceptor-specific markers, cone-rod homeobox protein (CRX) an

SUBMITTER: Zhang T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6534793 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature