The Effect of Simvastatin on the Expression of Catalase in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells.
10.3341/jkos.2014.55.10.1535
- Author:
Min Gu KANG
1
;
So Young LEE
;
Hee Seung CHIN
Author Information
1. Department of Ophthalmology, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea. hschin@inha.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Catalase;
Oxidative stress;
Retinal pigment epithelium;
Simvastatin
- MeSH:
Amitrole;
Catalase*;
Epithelial Cells*;
Fluorescence;
Humans;
Macular Degeneration;
Oxidative Stress;
Reactive Oxygen Species;
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction;
Retinal Pigment Epithelium;
Retinaldehyde*;
RNA;
RNA, Messenger;
Simvastatin*
- From:Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society
2014;55(10):1535-1542
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of simvastatin on the catalase expression in human retinal pigment epithelium. METHODS: Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells were incubated for 6 hours and 24 hours with various concentrations of simvastatin. In addition, RPE cells were incubated with 200 microM of H2O2 and various concentrations of simvastatin. After incubation, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to examine the catalase messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression and a catalase assay was performed to examine the catalase activity in RPE. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured using a fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS). RESULTS: Simvastatin increased the amount of catalase mRNA and catalase activity at 10 microM in RPE cells. Under oxidative stress (200 microM of H2O2), 2.5 microM of simvastatin increased the catalase mRNA expression and 5 microM of simvastatin increased catalase activity in RPE cells. In addition, simvastatin reduced free radical formation but this effect was diminished in the presence of an irreversible catalase inhibitor, 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (3-AT). CONCLUSIONS: Simvastatin exhibits anti-oxidative effects by inducing the catalase expression in human RPE cells. This anti-oxidative effect may be beneficial for preventing age-related macular degeneration induced by oxidative stress.
