Dietary antioxidants prevent age-related retinal pigment epithelium actin damage and blindness in mice lacking αvβ5 integrin.
Quote:
In the aging human eye, oxidative damage and accumulation of pro-oxidant lysosomal lipofuscin cause functional decline of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), which contributes to age-related macular degeneration.
In mice with an RPE-specific phagocytosis defect due to lack of αvβ5 integrin receptors, RPE accumulation of lipofuscin suggests that the age-related blindness we previously described in this model may also result from oxidative stress.
Cellular and molecular targets of oxidative stress in the eye remain poorly understood. Here we identify actin among 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) adducts formed specifically in β5(-/-) RPE but not in neural retina with age.
HNE modification directly correlated with loss of resistance of actin to detergent extraction, suggesting cytoskeletal damage in aging RPE.
Dietary enrichment with natural antioxidants, grapes or marigold extract containing macular pigments lutein/zeaxanthin, was sufficient to prevent HNE-adduct formation, actin solubility, lipofuscin accumulation, and age-related cone and rod photoreceptor dysfunction in β5(-/-) mice. Acute generation of HNE adducts directly destabilized actin but not tubulin cytoskeletal elements of RPE cells.
These findings identify destabilization of the actin cytoskeleton as a consequence of a physiological, sublethal oxidative burden of RPE cells in vivo that is associated with age-related blindness and that can be prevented by consuming an antioxidant-rich diet.
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Do remember some of the work with mice is species specific and lab rats/mice tend to raised in conditions that are dictated by humans are are not natural for mice/rats. While we can learn the basics from these experiments we have to repeat them in humans to be sure the same happens for us.
The dangers of oxidation should remind us all that iron overload can be reduced by regular blood donation. particularly for ALL MEN and all post menopausal women.
Human DNA is set to produce the natural anti oxidant cholecalciferol (vitamin d3) from dawn to dusk given sun exposure and the same bright light source resets circadian rhythm to enable the secretion of anti oxidant MELATONIN from dusk to dawn.
Vitamin D 'improves eye sight of elderly'
Melatonin is an excellent iron chelator so ensuring good quality sleep will reduce eye damage.
Grapes found to help prevent age-related blindness even better than lutein
Hybrid Mode
