title: High Pressure-Induced mtDNA Alterations in Retinal Ganglion Cells and Subsequent Apoptosis.
abstract: Purpose: Our previous study indicated that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage and mutations are crucial to the progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in a glaucomatous rat model. In this study, we examined whether high pressure could directly cause mtDNA alterations and whether the latter could lead to mitochondrial dysfunction and RGC death.Methods: Primary cultured rat RGCs were exposed to 30 mm Hg of hydrostatic pressure (HP) for 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h. mtDNA alterations and mtDNA repair/replication enzymes OGG1, MYH and polymerase gamma (POLG) expressions were also analyzed. The RGCs were then infected with a lentiviral small hairpin RNA (shRNA) expression vector targeting POLG (POLG-shRNA), and mtDNA alterations as well as mitochondrial function, including complex I/III activities and ATP production were subsequently studied at appropriate times. Finally, RGC apoptosis and the mitochondrial-apoptosis pathway-related protein cleaved caspase-3 were detected using a Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay and western blotting, respectively.Results: mtDNA damage was observed as early as 48 h after the exposure of RGCs to HP. At 120 h after HP, mtDNA damage and mutations significantly increased, reaching >40% and 4.8 ± 0.3-fold, respectively, compared with the control values. Twelve hours after HP, the expressions of OGG1, MYH and POLG mRNA in the RGCs were obviously increased 5.02 ± 0.6-fold (p< 0.01), 4.3 ± 0.2-fold (p< 0.05), and 0.8 ± 0.09-fold (p< 0.05). Western blot analysis showed that the protein levels of the three enzymes decreased at 72 and 120 h after HP (p< 0.05). After interference with POLG-shRNA, the mtDNA damage and mutations were significantly increased (p< 0.01), while complex I/III activities gradually decreased (p< 0.05). Corresponding decreases in membrane potential and ATP production appeared at 5 and 6 days after POLG-shRNA transfection respectively (p< 0.05). Increases in the apoptosis of RGCs and cleaved caspase-3 protein expression were observed after mtDNA damage and mutations.Conclusions: High pressures could directly cause mtDNA alterations, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and RGC death.
authors.affiliation: Eye and ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and RestorationShanghai, China.
authors.forename: Sheng-Hai
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Eye and ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Feng-Juan
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Department, Wesleyan UniversityMiddletown, CT, USA; Schepens Eye Research Institute, Wesleyan UniversityMiddletown, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Zhong-Mou
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Eye and ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Eye and ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jun-Yi
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Eye and ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and RestorationShanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Myopia, Ministry of Health, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xing-Huai
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Eye and ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and RestorationShanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Myopia, Ministry of Health, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China.
authors.forename: Ji-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wu
keywords: hydrostatic pressure; mitochondrial DNA; mitochondrial dysfunction; mutation; retinal ganglion cells