Protection against oxidative stress by vitamin D in cone cells

Photoreceptor degeneration (PD) refers to a group of heterogeneous outer retinal dystrophies characterized by the death of photoreceptors. Both oxidative stress and inflammation are involved in the pathogenesis of PD. We investigate whether vitamin D has a potential for the treatment of PD by evaluating the anti‐oxidative stress and anti‐inflammatory properties of the active form of vitamin D3, 1,α, 25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3, in a mouse cone cell line, 661W. Mouse cone cells were treated with H2O2 or a mixture of H2O2 and vitamin D; cell viability was determined. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in treated and untreated cells was measured. The expression of key anti‐oxidative stress and inflammatory genes in treated and untreated cells was determined. Treatment with vitamin D significantly increased cell viability and decreased ROS production in 661W cells under oxidative stress induced by H2O2. H2O2 treatment in 661W cells can significantly down‐regulate the expression of antioxidant genes and up‐regulate the expression of neurotoxic cytokines. Vitamin D treatment significantly reversed these effects and restored the expression of antioxidant genes. Vitamin D treatment also can block H2O2 induced oxidative damages. The data suggested that vitamin D may offer a therapeutic potential for patients with PD.
Source: Cell Biochemistry and Function - Category: Biochemistry Authors: Tags: Research Article Source Type: research