Alteration in Melanin Content in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells upon Hydroquinone Exposure

Autor: Takeyuki Nishiyama, Hiroki Tsujinaka, Tetsuo Ueda, Nahoko Ogata
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2023
Předmět:
Zdroj: International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Vol 24, Iss 23, p 16801 (2023)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1422-0067
1661-6596
DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316801
Popis: Abnormal pigmentation or depigmentation of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a precursor to neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). In this study, we evaluated the effects of hydroquinone (HQ), the most potent reductant in cigarette smoke, on the melanin production in RPE cells. Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS)-derived RPE and adult retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE-19) cells were cultured with HQ. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction revealed that the expression of melanin-related genes decreased due to the addition of HQ for 1 day. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent immunoassay showed that the concentration of melanin significantly decreased due to the addition of HQ for 24 h. A suspension of RPE cells with HQ for 24 h was prepared, and the absorbance was measured. The absorbance decreased particularly under blue light, suggesting that blue light may reach the choroid and cause choroidal inflammation. Additionally, melanin levels significantly decreased due to the addition of HQ for 1 week. After blue light irradiation on the RPE with HQ for 1 week, the vascular endothelial growth factor in the medium was significantly higher in the HQ group than in the control group. HQ-induced changes in melanin production may be responsible for the uneven pigmentation of the RPE, and these changes may cause nAMD.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals
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