Taurine protects transformed rat retinal ganglion cells from hypoxia-induced apoptosis by preventing mitochondrial dysfunction.

摘要: Hypoxia-induced apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) is the major cause progressive vision loss in numerous diseases, including glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Taurine a naturally occurring free amino acid that has been shown to have neurotrophic neuroprotective properties retina. We investigated specific potential for taurine be protective immortalized rat (RGC-5) exposed hypoxia (5% O(2)). Pretreatment RGC-5 with 0.1 mM significantly reduced extent detected by DAPI staining, MTT, Annexin V-FITC/PI assays. To further study mechanism underlying beneficial effect taurine, interactions between process mitochondria-mediated were examined. treatment suppressed induction mitochondrial permeability transition (mPT) reducing intracellular calcium levels inhibiting opening pores (mPTPs). Moreover, membrane potential, decline cellular ATP levels, reduction amount cytochrome c translocated cytoplasm caspase-3 activation observed taurine-treated cultures. These results demonstrate protect RGCs against hypoxic damage vivo preventing dysfunction.