biostudies-literatureMukherjee PKNEI NIH HHSNCRR NIH HHS13158-63https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC1941804biostudies-literatureUnknown104(32)Photoreceptor cell (rods and cones) renewal is accompanied by intermittent shedding of the distal tips of the outer segment followed by their phagocytosis in the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. This renewal is essential for vision, and it is thought that it fosters survival of photoreceptors and of RPE cells. However, no specific survival messenger/mediators have as yet been identified. We show here that photoreceptor outer segment (POS) phagocytosis markedly attenuates oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in ARPE-19 cells in culture. This phenomenon does not seem to be a generalized outcome of phagocytosis because nonbiological (polystyrene microsphere) phagocytosis did not elicit protection. The free docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) pool size and neuroprotectin D1 (NPD1) content increaseProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of AmericaPhotoreceptor outer segment phagocytosis attenuates oxidative stress-induced apoptosis with concomitant neuroprotectin D1 synthesis.PMC1941804R01 EY005121EY05121P20 RR016816Mukherjee PKBazan NGGordon WCMarcheselli VLde Rivero Vaccari JCJackson FEfalsePhotoreceptor outer segment phagocytosis attenuates oxidative stress-induced apoptosis with concomitant neuroprotectin D1 synthesis.Photoreceptor cell (rods and cones) renewal is accompanied by intermittent shedding of the distal tips of the outer segment followed by their phagocytosis in the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. This renewal is essential for vision, and it is thought that it fosters survival of photoreceptors and of RPE cells. However, no specific survival messenger/mediators have as yet been identified. We show here that photoreceptor outer segment (POS) phagocytosis markedly attenuates oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in ARPE-19 cells in culture. This phenomenon does not seem to be a generalized outcome of phagocytosis because nonbiological (polystyrene microsphere) phagocytosis did not elicit protection. The free docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) pool size and neuroprotectin D1 (NPD1) content increase2007-01-01T00:00:00Z2007 Aug2025-04-05T10:05:07.362Z2019-03-27T02:21:16ZS-EPMC19418041767093510.1073/pnas.0705963104