(-)-Epicatechin Provides Neuroprotection in Sodium Iodate-Induced Retinal Degeneration. 2022

Manjuan Peng, and Xuezhi Zhou, and Fei Yao, and Haibo Li, and Weitao Song, and Siqi Xiong, and Xiaobo Xia
Eye Center of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.

Oxidative stress, mitochondrial impairment, and pathological amyloid beta (Aβ) deposition are involved in the pathogenesis of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The natural flavonoid (-)-epicatechin (EC) is known to be an antioxidant and neuroprotective compound. Whether EC plays a therapeutic role in AMD is unknown. In this work, we aimed to assess the efficacy and molecular mechanisms of EC against sodium iodate (NaIO3)-induced retinal degeneration in C57BL/6 mice via bioinformatic, morphological, and functional methods. We demonstrated that EC had no toxic effects on the retina and could ameliorate retinal deformation and thinning. EC treatment prevented outer retinal degeneration, reduced drusen-like deposits, increased b-wave amplitude in electroretinography, blocked retinal gliosis, and increased the number and quality of mitochondria. Importantly, EC increased the protein expression of OPA1 and decreased the expression of PINK1, indicating the role of EC in mitochondrial fusion that impaired by NaIO3. Moreover, EC downregulated APP and TMEM97 levels, upregulated PGRMC1 levels, and reduced subretinal Aβ accumulation. This study illustrated that EC, which may become a promising therapeutic strategy for AMD, prevented NaIO3-induced retinal degeneration, and this improvement may be associated with the mitochondrial quality control and the TMEM97/PGRMC1/Aβ signaling pathway.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries

Related Publications

Manjuan Peng, and Xuezhi Zhou, and Fei Yao, and Haibo Li, and Weitao Song, and Siqi Xiong, and Xiaobo Xia
December 2002, Current eye research,
Manjuan Peng, and Xuezhi Zhou, and Fei Yao, and Haibo Li, and Weitao Song, and Siqi Xiong, and Xiaobo Xia
December 2014, Neural regeneration research,
Manjuan Peng, and Xuezhi Zhou, and Fei Yao, and Haibo Li, and Weitao Song, and Siqi Xiong, and Xiaobo Xia
April 2017, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science,
Manjuan Peng, and Xuezhi Zhou, and Fei Yao, and Haibo Li, and Weitao Song, and Siqi Xiong, and Xiaobo Xia
January 2014, PloS one,
Manjuan Peng, and Xuezhi Zhou, and Fei Yao, and Haibo Li, and Weitao Song, and Siqi Xiong, and Xiaobo Xia
October 1967, Yonago acta medica,
Manjuan Peng, and Xuezhi Zhou, and Fei Yao, and Haibo Li, and Weitao Song, and Siqi Xiong, and Xiaobo Xia
March 1966, Nihon ganka kiyo,
Manjuan Peng, and Xuezhi Zhou, and Fei Yao, and Haibo Li, and Weitao Song, and Siqi Xiong, and Xiaobo Xia
May 2016, Japanese journal of ophthalmology,
Manjuan Peng, and Xuezhi Zhou, and Fei Yao, and Haibo Li, and Weitao Song, and Siqi Xiong, and Xiaobo Xia
January 2019, International journal of clinical and experimental pathology,
Manjuan Peng, and Xuezhi Zhou, and Fei Yao, and Haibo Li, and Weitao Song, and Siqi Xiong, and Xiaobo Xia
January 2012, PloS one,
Manjuan Peng, and Xuezhi Zhou, and Fei Yao, and Haibo Li, and Weitao Song, and Siqi Xiong, and Xiaobo Xia
January 2020, Frontiers in pharmacology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!