Aberrant cell and basement membrane architecture contribute to sidestream smoke-induced choroidal endothelial dysfunction.
OBJECTIVE
Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is widely regarded as a major modifiable risk factor for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Yet, precisely how it exerts its pathologic effects is poorly understood. Since early-stage AMD is characterized by choroidal capillary loss, this study examined the effect of sidestream smoke (SS), the major component of ETS, on the viability of choroidal endothelial cells (EC), with an emphasis on the role of aberrant cell and basement membrane (BM) architecture in mediating SS-induced response.


METHODS
Chorioretinal ECs (RF/6A) were treated with SS, and cell viability and architecture were analyzed by colorimetric assay and actin cytoskeletal organization, respectively. The structure of RF/6A EC-secreted BM was examined by immunofluorescence for collagen IV and immunoblotting for lysyl oxidase (LOX), a collagen-crosslinking enzyme. Finally, fresh RF/6A ECs were cultured on decellularized SS-treated BM to evaluate its active role in EC dysfunction.


RESULTS
The RF/6A EC viability decreased progressively with increasing SS dose, which correlated strongly with a significant decline in actin cytoskeleton-dependent EC spreading. Sidestream smoke also caused marked disruption of the RF/6A EC-secreted BM that was accompanied by suppression of LOX expression. Further, fresh, non-SS-treated RF/6A ECs exhibited a significant loss in viability and actin cytoskeletal organization when cultured on SS-treated corrupt BM.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that aberrant physical cues in the form of EC and BM architecture likely have an important role in choriocapillaris dysfunction seen in SS-associated early AMD and implicate choroidal BM as a potential target for AMD management strategies.
Department of Bioengineering, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, California, United States.
Xiao
X
Yang
Department of Bioengineering, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, California, United States.
Harry A
HA
Scott
Department of Bioengineering, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, California, United States.
Soroush
S
Ardekani
Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, California, United States.
Monique
M
Williams
Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, California, United States Stem Cell Center, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, California, United States.
Prue
P
Talbot
Department of Bioengineering, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, California, United States Stem Cell Center, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, California, United States.
Kaustabh
K
Ghosh
D000199:Actins / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002829:Choroid / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D015862:Choroid Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000648:ultrastructure; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008249:Protein-Lysine 6-Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology*; D012906:Smoke / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects
D000199:Actins; D012906:Smoke; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D008249:Protein-Lysine 6-Oxidase
AMD; basement membrane; choroid; cytoskeleton; endothelial cells; tobacco smoke