N-Methyl-D-aspartate receptor activation, novel mechanism of homocysteine-induced blood-retinal barrier dysfunction.

ABSTRACT: Elevated levels of amino acid homocysteine (Hcy) recognized as hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) was reported in several human visual disorders, such as diabetic retinopathy (DR) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Breakdown of blood-retinal barrier (BRB) is concomitant with vision loss in DR and AMD. We previously reported that HHcy alters BRB. Here, we tested the hypothesis that HHcy alters BRB via activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). Human retinal endothelial cells subjected to high level of Hcy and mouse model of HHcy were used. We injected Hcy intravitreal and used a mouse model of HHcy that lacks cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS). RT-PCR, western blot, and immunofluorescence showed that retinal endothelial cells (RECs) express NMDAR at the gene and protein levels both

SUBMITTER: Tawfik A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7785674 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature