title: The Role of Pyruvate in Protecting 661W Photoreceptor-Like Cells Against Light-Induced Cell Death.
abstract: Light is a requirement for the function of photoreceptors in visual processing. However, prolonged light exposure can be toxic to photoreceptors, leading to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation, and photoreceptor cell death. We used the 661W mouse cone photoreceptor-like cell line to study the effects of pyruvate in protecting these cells from light-induced toxicity.
  
  
  
  661W cells were exposed to 15,000 lux continuous bright light for 5 hours and incubated in Dulbecco's modified eagle medium (DMEM) with various concentrations of pyruvate. Following light damage, cells were assessed for changes in morphology, cell toxicity, viability, and ROS production. Mitochondrial respiration and anaerobic glycolysis were also assessed using a Seahorse Xfe96 extracellular flux analyzer.
  
  
  
  We found that cell death caused by light damage in 661W cells was dramatically reduced in the presence of pyruvate. Cells with pyruvate-supplemented media also showed attenuation of oxidative stress and maintained normal levels of ATP. We also found that alterations in the concentrations of pyruvate had no effect on mitochondrial respiration or glycolysis in light-damaged cells.
  
  
  
  Taken together, the results show that pyruvate is protective against light damage but does not alter the metabolic output of the cells, indicating an alternative role for pyruvate in reducing oxidative stress. Thus, sodium pyruvate is a possible candidate for the treatment against the oxidative stress component of retinal degenerations.
authors.affiliation: a John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University , Canberra , Australia.|b ANU Medical School, The Australian National University , Canberra , Australia.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Natoli
authors.affiliation: a John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University , Canberra , Australia.
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rutar
authors.affiliation: a John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University , Canberra , Australia.
authors.forename: Yen-Zhen
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: a John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University , Canberra , Australia.
authors.forename: Joshua A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Chu-Tan
authors.affiliation: a John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University , Canberra , Australia.
authors.forename: Yuwei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: a John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University , Canberra , Australia.
authors.forename: Kartik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saxena
authors.affiliation: c School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of New South Wales , Sydney , Australia.|d The Save Sight Institute, University of Sydney , Sydney , Australia.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Madigan
authors.affiliation: a John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University , Canberra , Australia.|b ANU Medical School, The Australian National University , Canberra , Australia.
authors.forename: Krisztina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Valter
authors.affiliation: a John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University , Canberra , Australia.|b ANU Medical School, The Australian National University , Canberra , Australia.
authors.forename: Jan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Provis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008027:Light / Q000009:adverse effects; D051379:Mice; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D019289:Pyruvic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D017949:Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D019289:Pyruvic Acid
keywords: 661W cells; light-damage and oxidative stress; photoreceptors; retinal degeneration