Alteration in Melanin Content in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells upon Hydroquinone Exposure
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. I...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/23/16801 |
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| author | Takeyuki Nishiyama Hiroki Tsujinaka Tetsuo Ueda Nahoko Ogata |
| author_facet | Takeyuki Nishiyama Hiroki Tsujinaka Tetsuo Ueda Nahoko Ogata |
| author_sort | Takeyuki Nishiyama |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:49:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-79569ba916cc449c8bda5ff4c8a938a8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:49:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj.art-79569ba916cc449c8bda5ff4c8a938a82023-12-08T15:17:11ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672023-11-0124231680110.3390/ijms242316801Alteration in Melanin Content in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells upon Hydroquinone ExposureTakeyuki Nishiyama0Hiroki Tsujinaka1Tetsuo Ueda2Nahoko Ogata3Department of Ophthalmology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara 634-8521, JapanDepartment of Ophthalmology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara 634-8521, JapanDepartment of Ophthalmology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara 634-8521, JapanDepartment of Ophthalmology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara 634-8521, JapanAbnormal 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.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/23/16801neovascular age-related macular degenerationmelanin productionhydroquinonevascular endothelial growth factorblue light |
| spellingShingle | Takeyuki Nishiyama Hiroki Tsujinaka Tetsuo Ueda Nahoko Ogata Alteration in Melanin Content in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells upon Hydroquinone Exposure International Journal of Molecular Sciences neovascular age-related macular degeneration melanin production hydroquinone vascular endothelial growth factor blue light |
| title | Alteration in Melanin Content in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells upon Hydroquinone Exposure |
| title_full | Alteration in Melanin Content in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells upon Hydroquinone Exposure |
| title_fullStr | Alteration in Melanin Content in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells upon Hydroquinone Exposure |
| title_full_unstemmed | Alteration in Melanin Content in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells upon Hydroquinone Exposure |
| title_short | Alteration in Melanin Content in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells upon Hydroquinone Exposure |
| title_sort | alteration in melanin content in retinal pigment epithelial cells upon hydroquinone exposure |
| topic | neovascular age-related macular degeneration melanin production hydroquinone vascular endothelial growth factor blue light |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/23/16801 |
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