Biological effects of native and oxidized low-density lipoproteins in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and artherosclerosis share common characteristics in their pathogenesis. In this study, we investigated the effects of lipoproteins like native (n)-LDL, oxidized (ox)-LDL and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) on advanced senescence, extracellular matrix accumulation, cell loss, and transforming growth factor-beta2 (TGF-beta2) expression in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Primary human RPE cells were incubated with 10-100 microg/ml n-LDL, ox-LDL, and HDL for 24h. For determination of advanced senescence, beta-galactosidase staining was used. The induction of fibronectin (Fn), laminin alpha 1 (Laa1), and collagen type IV alpha 2 (Col4a2) mRNA was quantified by real-time PCR. Cell loss was investigated by live dead assay. Expression of TGF-beta2 was analyzed by real-time PCR and ELISA assays. Ox-LDL accelerated dose-dependently the onset of RPE senescence, whereas LDL and HDL had no effect. LDL and ox-LDL led to induced expression of Fn, Laa1 and Col4a2, whereas HDL had no influence. Incubation of RPE cells with 100 microg/ml ox-LDL induced marked cell death compared to untreated control cells. Expression of TGF-beta2 was dose-dependently increased by LDL and ox-LDL. LDL and ox-LDL induced cellular changes in RPE cells in vitro, which may resemble pathogenic events of AMD. These results may provide further information about the effects of LDL and ox-LDL in the human RPE and their potential role in the pathogenesis of AMD.