ItREOT r -RTvCASI.CTONr !V 2 0CM AD-A250 173 W_ ; ;tribution ~OECLASSIFICATIONIOOVVNG ISCm.EOULE is unlimited £PERr.FRMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBV S. MONITORING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMUIERIS) AEOSR*TR. 9 2 0 316 ., NAME OF PERFORMING ORGANIZATION G~s. OFFIcIE SYMBOL 7a. NAME OF MONITORING ORGANIZATION Univ. of Texas Health [(if appiacable) Science Center at San Antonio jophthalmology Air Force office of Scientific Research 6c. AOORESS (C-tV State and ZIP Codui 7b. ADORESS Cuty. State and ZIP Cade) 7703 Floyd Curl Drive AFOSR/NL San Antonio, TX 78284-6230 Bojlin~g AFB, DC 20332-6448 Ga. NAME OF PUNOING/SPOINSORIING a b. OFFICE SYMBOL 9. PROCUREMENT IN3TRUME1NT IOENTIFICATION NUMBER ORGANIZATION (fSRN aSpplicableo) Be. AOORESS (City. State and ZIP Cadet 10. SOURCE OF FUNOING NOS. ___________ i C)PROGRAM PROJECT TASKC WORKC wN ELEMENT NO. NO. NO. NO 11. TITLE (include Security CUa...ficationl (OI1J'0 Investigation of laser-induced retinal damnagr 12. PERSONAL AUTHORIS) Glickman, Randolph D. and Lam, Kwok-Wai 13e. TYPE OF REPORT 13tL TIME COVERSO 14. OATE OF REPORT (Yr.. Mo.. Day) S PA.GECOUNT Annual FRO 1 Apr 9 1~ 31jMar92 1992, April 22 - 16. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTATION Collection of manuscripts and manuscripts and abstracts produced during year one of the research program 17 COSATI COGES 11. SUBJECT TERMS lContinue on rwLerse if nec#inA-J and Identify by block num ber) r IL GROUP suB. GA. 19. ABSTRACT (Continue ont rever"e if .1.8aW7 .nd identify by block num'.ber# Laser-induced, photooxidative damage in ocular tissue was studied with a quantitative assay using I perfprimance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to separate oxidized and reduced ascorbic acid in exposed ti coniponents. We demonstrated that ascorbic acid, incubated with whole, bovine retinal pigment epithelial (IR cells, was oxidized when the reaction mixture was exposed to the output of an argon-ion continuous wave 11 The amount of ascorbic acid oxidized was proportional to the irradiance of the sample, and the reaction wavelength-dependent, with short-wavelength visible light more effective than long-wavelengths in drivinj reaction. The photosensitizing activity was associated with the RPE melanin pigment granules, and was not after disrupting or heating the RPE cells. Because melanin was known to form free radicals when illuminated hypothesized that ascorbic acid detoxified the light-activated melanin free radicals while being itself oxidized h process. If the supply of reduced ascorbic acid were exhausted, however, the activated melanin could have be source of tissue-damaging radicals. This model was consistent with a photochemical damage mechai involving light-activated melanin. 20. CISTRI SUTIONIA VAiLABILITY OF ABSTRACT 21. ABSTRACT SECURITY CLASSIFICATION UNCLASSIFIEOfUNLIMITEO C SAME AS APTOI SR Unclassified 22a. NAME OF RESPONSIBLE INOIVIOUAL 22b, TIELEPHONE NUMBER 12c OFFI'CE SYS460L LJIjy y\ !A'-I Include A oe Code, csirr~~~~v- Ccwne 42- 7&7:s_9- /tJ/2
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ItREOT r -RTvCASI.CTONr !V 2 0CM AD-A250 173W_ ; ;tribution
~OECLASSIFICATIONIOOVVNG ISCm.EOULE is unlimited
£PERr.FRMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBV S. MONITORING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMUIERIS)
AEOSR*TR. 9 2 0 316., NAME OF PERFORMING ORGANIZATION G~s. OFFIcIE SYMBOL 7a. NAME OF MONITORING ORGANIZATIONUniv. of Texas Health [(if appiacable)
Science Center at San Antonio jophthalmology Air Force office of Scientific Research
6c. AOORESS (C-tV State and ZIP Codui 7b. ADORESS Cuty. State and ZIP Cade)
7703 Floyd Curl Drive AFOSR/NL
San Antonio, TX 78284-6230 Bojlin~g AFB, DC 20332-6448
Ga. NAME OF PUNOING/SPOINSORIING a b. OFFICE SYMBOL 9. PROCUREMENT IN3TRUME1NT IOENTIFICATION NUMBER
ORGANIZATION (fSRN aSpplicableo)
Be. AOORESS (City. State and ZIP Cadet 10. SOURCE OF FUNOING NOS. ___________
i C)PROGRAM PROJECT TASKC WORKC wNELEMENT NO. NO. NO. NO
11. TITLE (include Security CUa...ficationl (OI1J'0
Investigation of laser-induced retinal damnagr12. PERSONAL AUTHORIS)
Glickman, Randolph D. and Lam, Kwok-Wai
13e. TYPE OF REPORT 13tL TIME COVERSO 14. OATE OF REPORT (Yr.. Mo.. Day) S PA.GECOUNT
Collection of manuscripts and manuscripts and abstracts produced during year one
of the research program
17 COSATI COGES 11. SUBJECT TERMS lContinue on rwLerse if nec#inA-J and Identify by block num ber)
r IL GROUP suB. GA.
19. ABSTRACT (Continue ont rever"e if .1.8aW7 .nd identify by block num'.ber#
Laser-induced, photooxidative damage in ocular tissue was studied with a quantitative assay using Iperfprimance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to separate oxidized and reduced ascorbic acid in exposed ticoniponents. We demonstrated that ascorbic acid, incubated with whole, bovine retinal pigment epithelial (IRcells, was oxidized when the reaction mixture was exposed to the output of an argon-ion continuous wave 11The amount of ascorbic acid oxidized was proportional to the irradiance of the sample, and the reactionwavelength-dependent, with short-wavelength visible light more effective than long-wavelengths in drivinjreaction. The photosensitizing activity was associated with the RPE melanin pigment granules, and was notafter disrupting or heating the RPE cells. Because melanin was known to form free radicals when illuminatedhypothesized that ascorbic acid detoxified the light-activated melanin free radicals while being itself oxidized hprocess. If the supply of reduced ascorbic acid were exhausted, however, the activated melanin could have besource of tissue-damaging radicals. This model was consistent with a photochemical damage mechaiinvolving light-activated melanin.
20. CISTRI SUTIONIA VAiLABILITY OF ABSTRACT 21. ABSTRACT SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
UNCLASSIFIEOfUNLIMITEO C SAME AS APTOI SR Unclassified
22a. NAME OF RESPONSIBLE INOIVIOUAL 22b, TIELEPHONE NUMBER 12c OFFI'CE SYS460L
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ABSTRACT SUBMISSION FORM
I. TITLEOFPRESENTATION: Reduction of Photooxidative Stress in the Retina by Uptake of
of Dehydro-L-Ascorbic Acid
2. MAIN AUTHOR: GLICKMAN Randolph D
Last/Family name First name Middle initial
DEPARTMENT/CLINIC: Department of Ophthalmology
INSTITUTION: University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
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CIRCLE THE SECTION:REDUCTION OF PHOTOOXIDATIVE STRESS IN THE RETINA BY
AQUEOUS HUMOR UPTAKE OF DEHYDRO-L-ASCORBIC ACIDCORNEA 'Glickman, Randolph D., 'Lam, Kwok-Wai, and 2Yu. Hing-Sing.EPITHELUM 'Dep't. of Ophthalmology, Univ. of Texas Health Science Center at San AntonioGENERALLENS 2Div. Math., Comp. Sci., and Stat., Univ. Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, T
PHYSIOLOGYIPHARMACOLOGY
XWe recently reported that light-activated, RPE melanin oxidizes ascorbic aci(AA) to an extent proportional to the radiant exposure (Glickman & LairPhotochem Photobiol, 55:191-196, 1992). It is known that light excites melanin tan active free-radical state. Because AA is present at up to 1 mM in ocular tissue.we hypothesized that AA donates electrons to light-activated melanin. We furthereasoned that if the supply of reduced AA were to be exhausted, then the melaniradicals could react with cellular structures, causing damage and loss of function
For official use: The use of AA to prevent photic damage to the retina has been explored in ot
Arrival date: laboratory and by others. We compared the transport kinetics of reduced AA tA,,sr. those of its oxidized form, dehydro-L-ascorbic acid (DHA), in cultured, trans-formeAmwerI2 RPE cells. AA is transported into RPE cells by a high-affinity (K. ,--0.041 mlV
mechanism with a low V.. (2.74 pmol/min), whereas the K., of the DH,1: transporter is 5.670 mM, and its V,. is 325 pmol/min. The level of AA in serm2: normally saturates the AA transport system; therefore, administration of AA doe3:__ not result in increased transport of AA into tissues. DHA, however, is normally lo,
in the serum, and thus is actively transported into RPE cells where it is rapid]5: reduced to AA. We have demonstrated, by recording the ERG from a su[--rfuse6: rabbit eyecup preparation, that addition of DHA, but not AA, at 1 mM or high(7: protects the retina against photic damage. This result indicates that DHA may t
used therapeutically to increase the content of AA in sensitive ocular tissueSupported by AFOSR-91-0208, NEI EY-08213, and Rei~rr, - "revent Blindnes
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Photochemistry and Photobiology Vol. 55. No. 2. pp. 191-196, 1992 0031-865592 S0O+001Printed in Great Britain. All rights reserved Copyright M 1992 Perganion Pr" ple
OXIDATION OF ASCORBIC ACID AS AN INDICATOROF PHOTOOXIDATIVE STRESS IN THE EYE
RANDOLPH D. GLICKMAN* and KWOK-WAi LAMDepartment of Ophthalmology. The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78284-6230, USA
(Received 20 April 1991; accepted 16 July 1991)
Abstract-When whole retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) cells isolated from bovine eyes areincubated with "4C-labeled ascorbic acid and exposed to a visible laser, the ascorbic acid .is oxidizedto dehydro-L-ascorbic acid (DHA). The amount of ascorbic acid which is oxidized is proportional tothe radiant exposure of the sample (i.e. the total amount of radiation per unit area delivered over theexposure time). Blue light is more effective than red light in driving the reaction. The amount of labelappearing in the DHA fraction is increased if unlabeled DHA is present in the reaction mixture,indicating that some redox cycling of ascorbate is occurring in the RPE cells. The ascorbic acidoxidizing activity does not depend on intact cells, is not inactivated by heating the cells to 80*C. andappears to reside mainly in the subcelular fraction which contains melanin pigment granules. Theascorbic acid oxidation may be caused by free radicals formed when melanin is illuminated with light.This reaction appears to be a useful method for quantifying the production of free radicals duringphotooxidative stress.
INTRODUCTION
Previous observations have found that the ascorbicacid (AA)t in the retina, aqueous humor, and vit-reous exists primarily in the reduced form, while inthe retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) and chor-oid, the oxidized form, dehydro-L-ascorbic acid(DHA), is relatively more plentiful (Woodford etal., 1983; Lai et al., 1986). Because of the ability ofAA to undergo oxidation-reduction cycling, it isable to serve as a physiological antioxidant and freeradical scavenger (Sapper et al., 1982; Bielski andRichter, 1975). Thus, the oxidation of AA may ,serve as a possible marker of oxidative stress inbiological tissues. Indeed, when retinal damage isinduced by chronic light exposure, the amount of ,DHA markedly increases in the RPE (Woodford eta!., 1983; Tso et al., 1984; Fong et al., 1987). The Figure 1. Electron micrograph of isolated retinal pigmentapparent oxidation of AA during intense light epithelial cell. Suspensions of RPE cells were preparedexposure suggests that it is serving as a substrate from fresh bovine eyes as described in the text. A samplefor oxidizing species produced by the interaction of of the cells was immediately fixed in buffered glutaral-light with a sensitizer in the ocular tissues. We dehyde fixative and prepared for EM analysis. Cellsdesigned this series of experiments to determine if appear to be intact, including their pigment granules. Mag-nification 2880x.the AA in ocular tissues could be oxidized in a
graded way by increasing irradiance with light. ment was dissected from the eyes, and the retina wasremoved by grasping it with blunt forceps and lifting it so
MATERIALS AND METHODS that it could be cut free at the optic nerve. The eye cup 0was rinsed three times in 0.32 M sucrose. One mL of
Isolation of retinal epithelial cells. Experiments were 0.32 M sucrose was placed in the eyecup and RPE cellsperformed in isolated RPE cells taken from bovine eyes were carefully brushed from the choroid with a soft camelfreshly obtained from a local abattoir. The anterior seg- hair brush. Cells from up to 30 eyes were combined for
use in the experiments. The cells were concentrated bycentrifugation for 10 min at 1000 . Examination by light .........
*To whom correspondence should be addressed. and electron microscopy of the cell suspensions revealedtAbbreviations: AA. ascorbic acid- DHA. dehydro-L-as- that the cells remained intact after this treatment (Fig.
corbic acid; DOPA, dihidroxyphenylalanine; EDTA, 1). Typically, 10 bovine eyes produced cell suspensionsethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, EPR, electron para- containing I to 6 x 107 RPE cells/mL and 6 to 8 x 10 It.,dSmagnetic resonance; HPCL. high pressure liquid chrom- erythrocytes/mL. I-atography; RPE, retinal pigmented epithelium. Reaction mixture for determination of ascorbic acid oxi- .t
191
(\QA- 11
192 RANDOLPH D. GUCKNAN and KwoK-W1 LAu
daion. The reaction of RPE cells, AA. and light was DHA AAcarried out in a total volume of 50 ;LL. This was made up ,, 2500 1of a 25 gL aliquot of RPE cells with the balance of the U Auvolume comprised of 0.2 mM labeled AA (New England I 2000Nuclear, Boston, MA, specific activity 6893 cpm/nmol),0.32 M sucrose, and 0.05 mM EDTA. The EDTA was -] 1500added to minimize oxidation by trace amounts of divalent *
metal ions, although we note that copper chelates may still 1000be capable of catalyzing some oxidation of AA (Buettner, i1986). The effect of DHA was tested at concentrations of 0 beam Cul and 5 mM. '
Ascorbic acid assay. The DHA was separated from AA Ceby HPLC on a wL-Bondapak-NH 2 column (Waters Associ- 0ates, Milford, MA), eluted with 20 mM NH4H2PO at a 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 7 8rate of I mL/min (Fox et al., 1982). The retention timesof AA and DHA were determined by the elution from Minutesthe column of [14C]AA before and after oxidation byCuSO,. The eluant was passed through a UV detector Figure 2. Separation of AA and DHA by HPLC. For(Waters Associates Model 441 with a 280 nm filter), mixed analysis of AA oxidation, samples were placed on awith scintillation fluid (Radiomatic, Flow Scint III), and li-Bondapak-NH 2 column and eluted with 20 mMassayed for radioactivity with an in-line detector NH4H2PO 4 at a flow rate of I mL/min. To establish the(Radiomatic, Meriden, CT, Flo-One Beta A-250). Flow retention time of DHA, 0.2 mM ['4C]AA in 10 mMrate of scintillation fluid through the beta detector was ammonium phosphate was incubated with 0.4 mM CuSO.,4 mL/min, and radioactivity was recorded every 6 s. which resulted in nearly complete oxidation of AA to
Oxidation of AA was assayed in the reaction mixture DHA. The figure shows the elution of radioactivity beforeimmediately following exposure of the mixture to a visible and after incubation with CuSO.laser. The sample tubes containing the exposed reactionmixture were centrifuged at 800 g for 1 min to precipitatethe cells. Ten mL of supernatant were removed and the 1L-Bondapak-NH 2 column. When [1'C]AA wasinjected onto the wL-Bondapak-NH 2 column. incubated in 0.4 mM CuSO4 , the AA was oxidized
Laser exposures. Laser light was derived from a Coher- within minutes to DHA. On the g-Bondapak-NH 2ent (Palo Alto, CA) Model 920 argon-krypton laser photo- column, DHA eluted first (retention time 3.5 min),coagulator. The output of this laser system was selected while AA eluted at about 6 min (Fig. 2). Becauseto be either the mixed blue-green emission of the argonlaser (approximately 55% 488.1 nm and 45% 514.5 nm). DHA has negligible absorption at 280 nm, only theor the krypton red emission (647.1 nm). A fiber optic ascorbate peak is revealed by the UV detector. Theconducted the laser output into a lOx expander which elution of radioactivity in the DHA peak, however,produced a final beam diameter of approximately 20 mm. indicated that oxidation of the [4CIAA occurred.In order to expose the cells to the laser, 25 IzL of the RPE plete separation of AA and DHA was achievedcell suspension were placed with 25 p.L of reaction mixture Cornin a plastic micro-centrifuge tube damped so that the laser under these HPLC conditions.beam entered the tube at its mouth. Because the beamdiameter was larger than that of the sample tube, the cellswere completely and uniformly covered (ignoring self- Effect of laser exposure conditionsscreening of the interior of the sample) by the laser beam.The power output of the laser was controlled by adjusting The test solution containing ['4CJAA was addedthe laser tube current, and the exposure duration was to RPE cell suspensions and the mixture waslimited by means of a shutter at the laser exit aperture. A exposed to the laser output for various durations.Laser Precision (Utica. NY) DG-10 thermopile radiometer The irradiance of the sample by the laser was heldwas used to measure the beam power at the sample tube,and the sample irradiance was calculated in mW/cm2. constant during the exposure period and only the
Cell fractonaion and preparation of melanin gran. duration was varied. Under these conditions, theules. The RPE cells were suspended in 0.32 M sucrose, oxidation of AA to DHA was demonstrated, butcentrifuged at 800 g for 10 min. and resuspended in 0.32 M the extent of AA oxidation was dependent on thesucrose to a volume of 1.25 mL. One mL was subjected experimental conditions, summarized in Table I.to sonication for 15 s. No intact cells remained after soni- When RPE cells were present in the test mixturecation, but the number of free pigment granules wasincreased. The sonicated cells were then subjected to suc- but not exposed to the laser, a low level of AAcessive centrifugation at 800 for 10 min, 8000 # for 10 oxidation was observed, possibly due to the effectsmin, and 100000 5 for 2 h. Pellets were obtained after of ambient room light. In fact, slightly more labeledeach centrifugation, resuspended in I mL of 0.32 M DHA was produced in a sample of RPE cells storedsucrose, and identified as "PI", "P2" and "P3" fractions,respectively. A 20 ILL aliquot of each fraction was com- for 5 h in ambient room light than in a similarbined with 0.05 mM EDTA and 0.2 mM ['4C]AA to a sample stored for 5 h in the dark. The extent offinal volume of 50 paL. The mixture was then exposed to endogenous oxidizing activity of the RPE cell- hasthe laser and assayed for DHA production in the usual not vet. however, been thor-ughly investigoted.manner. When RPE cells were omitted from the test mixture,
RESULTS there was negligible oxidation of AA by the laser,even when cold DHA was present. Thus the oxidiz-
Separation of ascorbic acid and dehydro-L-ascor- ing action of the laser depended on some factorbic acid present in the RPE cells.
The retention times of AA and DHA were deter- When the test solution containing RPE cells andmined by running a known standard of each on (nominally) 14.3 nmol of AA was exposed for 60 s
Photooxidation of ascorbic acid 193
Table 1. Effect of DHA and ambient light on AA oxidation by RPE cells
Experimental conditions Results
Cold DHA Ambient Laser exp.(mM) RPE light time (s) N DHA (nmol) AA (nmol)
Where N = 2. results are expressed as the average = high and low values, otherwisethe results are the average ± I SD.
*Includes 5 min processing time under ambient light.tStored 5 h in dark.tStored 5 h in ambient laboratory light.
to the blue-green argon laser output at an irradiance Lamr: Argon Blue-Green Cold DHA Presont
of 90 ± 2 mW/cm 2 , 1.71 nmol of AA (about 12% U2
of the available AA) was oxidized to DHA. We M0
hypothesized that if the RPE is capable of reducing 1 -
DHA to AA, more AA may be oxidized by the :laser exposure than was apparent in the first exper- a *iment. To test this possibility, we added unlabeled 5DHA to the reaction mixture prior to the laser 4 - 4-OHA
exposure. If oxidation-reduction cycling is occur- 2
ring, "cold" DHA should compete with the 14C_ 0 _ Cll-Free Control
labeled pool of DHA for conversion back to AA, 0 25 so 75 100 125 SO
thereby trapping additional label in the DHA frac-tion. Consistent with this prediction, when unla- Expo ure Duration (see)beled DHA was present in the reaction mixture,4.3 nmol of AA was oxidized by the laser exposure Figure 3. Effect of exposure duration on AA oxidation.
(Table 1), which represented about 30% of the Samples of the AA reaction mixture with 5 mM DHAwere exposed to the argon laser for various durations at
available AA. an irradiance of 90 ± 2 mWfcm 2. The amount of AAoxidized was a linear function of the exposure duration(r = 0.969), at least over the range of 10 to 120 s. Some
Effect of laser exposure time endogenous oxidizing activity is apparently present in theRPE cells, as indicated by the non-zero Y-intercept of
An approximately linear relation was observed the regression line fit to the DHA data points. There isbetween radiant exposure and DHA production for negligible oxidation in cell-free, exposed or unexposedexposures of 15-120 s, with the sample irradiance samples.held constant at 90 ± 2 mW/cm2 (Fig. 3). A thres-hold for the oxidative effect was not observed within blue-green output. The amount of DHA producedthe range of exposure duration used in these exper- by the red light exposures was much less than thatiments. A linear regression line fit to the data points produced by the shorter wavelength light (Fig. 4),did not have a zero V-intercept, probably due to despite the smaller number of photons delivered bysome endogenous oxidizing activity in the RPE the blue-green light. On a quantal basis, therefore,cells. In comparison, a cell-free control had nearly red light is less effective than the blue-green lightzero AA-oxidizing activity (Fig. 3). Also shown in in driving the conversion of AA to DHA.Fig. 3 is the amount of ["CJAA remaining in thesample following laser exposure. The total radioac- Localization of the photosensitizertivity recovered in the AA and DHA fractions fromthe chromatograms remained approximately con- The RPE cells were subjected to a series ofstant; AA is evidently not being converted to any manipulations in order to identify the cellular com-species other than DHA. ponent responsible for the light-mediated AA oxi-
dation. The capability to oxidize AA during light
flaser wavelength exposure was not lost following sonication, nor byEffect of aheating the cells to 800C. Prior to sonication, the
The output of the laser was tuned to the krypton cell suspensions contained 5.4 x 10' RPE cells/mL,red wavelength (647.1 nm) and the exposure power 6.2 x 101 red blood cells/mL. and 1 x 109 pigmentwas adjusted to be radiomettically equal to the granules/mL. After sonication. no intact cells were
194 RANDOLPH D. GLICKMAN and KwoK-WAi LAm
15.00 -DNA +DHA
12.50 150
10.00 T
7.50 c 0
E 5.00C 2.50 50
0.00 0120 se¢ 300 8e RPE Sonic. P1 P2 P3 Supft.
Exposure DuratIon (see) RPE Fractlon
Blue-Green Figure 5. Localization of AA oxidizing activity. The abilityof whole RPE cells to promote AA-oxidation was com-pared to sonicated cell fragments and to various subcellularfractions. Legend: RPE = whole cell sample (approx 10"
Red cells); Sonic = sonicated cells; P1 = pellet from centrifu-Figure 4. Effect of laser wavelength. Samples of the AA gation at 800 x for 10 min (approx 2 x 109 free pigmentreaction mixture plus 1 mM DHA were exposed to either granules); P2 = pellet from centrifugation at 80 S forthe argon blue-green (488.0 + 514.5 nm) or the krypton 10 min; P3 = pellet from centrifugation at 100000 • forred (647.1 nm) output at 90 _t 2 mW/cm2 for 120 or 300 s. 2 h; Supnt. = supernatant resulting from final, high-speedThe amount of DHA produced by the laser exposure was centrifugation. Each of these fractions was added to thedetermined by HPLC. The shorter wavelength light was AA reaction mixture, with and without unlabeled DHA,at least twice as effective as the long wavelength in initiat- and exposed to the argon blue-green laser for 60 s. The
ing AA oxidation. graph shows the units of activity of each sample, where 1unit = 1 nmol of DHA produced in 50 JLL of sample.
present, but the granule concentration increased to1.9 x IO9/mL, apparently because they were dation. The observation that unlabeled DHA addedreleased from disrupted cells. The sonicared cells to the reaction mixture increases the radioactivitywere fractionated as described in the Methods, in the DHA fraction provides evidence that AA isexposed to the argon laser for 60 s, and the oxidizing able to undergo oxidation-reduction cycling in theactivity of each fraction was measured and RPE. Such a process, by maintaining the availabilityexpressed in units of activity (1 unit = 1 nmol of of reduced AA, enhances the ability of the antioxi-DHA produced per 50 i.L reaction medium). As dant to protect ocular tissues from light damage byindicated in Fig. 5, nearly all of the AA oxidizing scavenging free radicals.activity was retained in the P1 fraction. Examination The oxidation of AA following light exposure isof the fractions by light microscopy revealed that especially interesting in view of the antioxidant andmost of the pigment granules were precipitated dur- free-radical scavenging role AA is supposed to playing the low-speed centrifugation, and that the gran- in ameliorating ocular light damage (Organisciak etules were the most prominent feature of Pl. Thus, al., 1985; 1987; Li et al.. 1985: Noell et al., 1987).the photosensitizing activity appeared to be associ- Moreover, after induction of light damage, theated with the melanin granules. amount of AA is reduced in the RPE and choroid
(Woodford et al., 1983; Tso et al., 1984). TheseDISCUSSION previous studies however, observed changes in AA
oxidation after chronic or damaging light exposures.Our findings indicate that a fast, photooxidative The present study observed alterations in AA oxi-
process occurs in the environment of the RPE dur- dation after relatively brief exposures below theing light exposure. The products of this process, intensity required for visible retinal damage (ANSI,probably free radicals, are capable of reacting 1989). The linear dependence of DHA productionquickly with ascorbic acid, which thereby presum- upon total light exposure suggests an application ofably reduces free radical toxicity. We note that the this reaction in the quantification of ocular photo-oxidation produced by a given light exposure is oxidative stress. For example, two electrons mustessentially complete at the end of the exposure. be transferred from AA to an acceptor to completeAlthough hydrogen peroxide has often been pro- the oxidation of AA through its semidehydroascor-posed as an intermediate in ocular light damage, we bic acid intermediate to DHA. In the absence ofhave found the direct oxidation of AA by hydrogen competing reactions, the stoichiometry of this reac-peroxide-generated OH' proceeds much more tion may be used to estimate the number of freeslowly than the light-mediated reaction radicals produced by a given light exposure.(unpublished observation). Therefore, another free The wavelength sensitivity of the light-triggeredradical species may be responsible for AA oxi- AA-oxidation suggests that a specific sensitizer is
Photooxidation of ascorbic acid 195
involved in the reaction. Our experiments provide date the interactions between the ascorbic aciddirect evidence that a sensitizer resides in the RPE, redox cycle and the production of free radicals inwhich absorbs at least 50% of the visible light the ocular melanins during light exposure in vivo.entering the primate eye, depending on the wave- In the interim, the oxidation of AA by reactivelength of the light and the age of the eye (Boettner photoproducts appears to be a useful method forand Wolter, 1962). Other evidence that the RPE studying the effects of low-power lasers and othercontains a sensitizer for light-initiated reactions light sources on the ocular tissues.exists. The earliest photochemical lesions involve tthe RPE and photoreceptors (Ham et al., 1986). Acknowledgements-We thank Mr. Raymond Sowell forAlthough a specific sensitizer has not yet been iden- his technical assistance throughout this work. Dr. Johna-tified, several studies have indicated that short than Kiel of the USAF Armstrong Laboratory. Brooks
AFB, TX. and Dr. Gus Schulte of the Department ofwavelength light is especially damaging (Ham et al., Ophthalmology, UTHSC San Antonio, provided critical1979; Pautler et al., 1989; Dorey et al., 1990). comments on this manuscript. This research was supportedPautler (1990) suggested that a heme-containing by grants from NEI (EY08213), the USAF Office of Scien-protein, probably a cytochrome, was the sensitizer tific Research (AFOSR-91-0208), the C.V. Uranga Philan-
thropic Trust of the San Antonio Area Foundation, andfor some light-initiated changes in RPE cell func- Alcon Laboratories. Inc.tion, although aromatic amino acids or other inter-mediates involved in melanogenesis are also candi- R Esdates (Dorey et al., 1990). Our results are consistentwith these previous studies in that short-wavelength, ANSI (1989) American National Standard for the Safe Usevisible light is particularly effective in triggering an of Lasers. ANSI Z136.1-1989, Am. Nat. Stand. Inst..
New York.oxidative process. However, we have demonstrated Bielski. B. H. J. and H. W. Richter (1975) Some proper-that the photooxidation of AA is unaffected by ties of the ascorbate free radical. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci.sonication of the RPE cells, or by heating cell frac- 258. 231-237.tions to 800C. These observations indicate that a Boettner, E. A. and J. R. Wolter (1962) Transmission ofnon-enzyme sensitizer, such as melanin, is the sensi- the ocular media. Invest. Ophthalmol. 1, 776-783.
Buettner, G. R. (1986) Ascorbate autooxidation in thetizer involved in the oxidation of AA. Furthermore, presence of iron and copper chelates. Free Rad. Res.the majority of the oxidizing activity is associated Commun. 1. 349-353.with a subcellular fraction rich in melanin pigments. Cope, F. W., R. J. Sever and B. D. Polis (1963) Reversible
Although melanin pigments have often been pro- free radical generation in the melanin granules of the eyeby visible light. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 100, 171-177.
posed as serving a protective role against photo- Crippa, P. R., V. Cristofoletti and N. Romeo (1978) Aoxidative stress (e.g. Menon and Haberman. 1979; band model for melanin deduced from optical absorp-Sakina et al., 1985; Ostrovsky et al., 1987), the tion and photoconductivity experiments. Biochim.melanin heteropolymer can generate free radicals Biophys. Acta 538. 164-170.when irradiated with visible light (Mason et al., Dorey, C. K.. F. C. Delori and K. Akeo (1990) Growth
of cultured RPE and endothelial cells is inhibited by1960; Cope et at., 1963). Melanin's free radical na- blue light but not green )r red light. Cvrr. Eve Res. 9.ture has been proposed to result from its existence 549-559.as a mixture of quinone-hydroquinone and Fong. D.. K. Etzel. P. F. Lee. T. Y.-M. Lin andquinone-semiquinone polymers (Longuet-Higgins, K.-W. Lam (1987) Factors affecting ascorbate oxidation
1960). Recent work has supported this proposal by in aqueous humor. Curr. Eye Res. 6. 357-361.Fox. R. R.. K. -W. Lam, R. Lewen and P. -F. Lee (1982)
examining the fluorescent spectrum of DOPA- Ascorbate concentration in tissues from normal andmelanin (Gallas and Eisner. 1987). The melanin buphthalmic rabbits. J. Hered. 73, 109-111.radical is relatively stable. The EPR peak height in Gallas. J. M. and M. Eisner (1987) Fluorescence of mel-bovine eye melapin samples irradiated with white anin-dependence upon excitation wavelength and con-
centration. Photochem. Photobiol. 45, 595-600.light from a tungsten lamp required 2-3 s to return Ham. W. T.. Jr., R. G. Allen. L. Feeney-Burns. M. F.to baseline after the light was extinguished (Cope Marmor. L. M. Parver. P. H. Proctor. D. H. Sliney andet al.. 1963). Thus, sufficient irradiation of melanin M. L. Wolbarsht (1986) The involvement of the retinalcould produce excess free radicals capable of pigment epithelium (RPE). In Optical Radiation and
with stissues or molecules. It Visual Health (Edited by M. Waxier and V. M.reacting w surrounding Hitchins), pp. 43-67. CRC Press. Boca Raton. FL.must be noted, however, that reactivity of melanin Ham, W. T.. Jr., H. A, Mueller and J. J. Ruffolo, Jr.radicals is determined by additional factors such as and A. M. Clarke (1979) Sensitivity of the retina tothe type of melanin (Sealy et al.. 1984). and whether radiation damage as a function of wavelength. Photo-the melanin is complexed with proteins (Menon chem. Photobiol. 29. 735-743.e al.. 1976). Moee, thewity pron menn Lai. Y. -L.. D. Fong. K. -W. Lam. H. -M. Wang and A.
et ai., 1976). Moreover, the ability of melanin to T. C. Tsin (1986) Distribution of ascorbate in the retina,participate in rapid electron transfers is suggested subretinal fluid and pigment epithelium. Curr. Eye Rex.by the presence of a bipolar peak in photocurrent 5. 933-938.which reaches a maximum with irradiation by Li. Z. Y.. M. 0. M. Tso. H. M. Wang and D. T. Organis-
1978). The argon laser ciak (1985) Amelioration of photic injury in rat retina500 nm light (Crippa et ai.. r by ascorbic acid: a histopathologic study. Invest.emissions used in the present work bracket this Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 26. 1589-1598.wavelength. Further work will be necessary to eluci- Longuet-Higgins. H. C. (1960) On the origin of the free
196 RANDOLPH D. GLICKMAN and KwoK-WAi LAM
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"Ac kf'u £Ciypwf t,;4Poh 1AW
Prevention of light-induced free radical production from melanin granuleL by
ascorbic acid.
Kwok-Wai Lam, Ph.D. and Randolph D. Glickman, Ph.D.
Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Texas Health Science Center atSan Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78284-6230
INTRODUCTION
Increased ascorbic acid oxidation in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)after prolonged exposure to light [1-3] led us to postulate a possible role of ascorbicacid in the prevention of light damage to the retina. However, the mechanism bywhich ascorbic acid functions as an antioxidant is uncertain. Ascorbic acid mayserve as a substrate for peroxidase to prevent intracellular accumulation ofhydrogen peroxide [4]. On the other hand, ascorbic acid may be able to reactdirectly with light-induced free radicals. The majority of light energy entering theeye is absorbed in the retinal pigment epithelium [5], therefore, it is likely thatan efficient means of detoxifying light-induced free radicals exists in the RPE. Wehave previously demonstrated rapid ascorbic acid oxidation during exposure of theRPE cells to light [6]. Because this rapid reaction is a suitable candidate for adetoxification mechanism, and because it appears to be dependent on the presenceof melanin, we designed the present study to characterize the light-dependentascoibic acid oxidation reaction in the presence of melanin granules in a cell freeincubation mixture.
METHODS
Preparation of retinal pigment epithelial cells. Int. -!t RPE cells were prepared from freshlyobtained bovine eyes by the method previously described [6]. Melanin granules were preparedfrom cells suspended in 1 ml sucrose and disrupted by a sonicator. The suspension was layeredon 40 ml of 2 M sucrose and subjected to centrifugation at 8000 g for 30 minutes. The pigmentgranules were washed once more in the same manner, then suspended in 0.25 M sucrose with 0.05mM ethylenediaminetetraacetc acid (EDTA). The concentration of pigment granules wasestimated from counts made with a hemocytometer.Light induced ascorbic acid oxidation. ["C]-ascorbic acid (20 nmol, specific activity 4500cpm/nmol) purchased from New England Nuclear (Boston, MA) was mixed with melanin granulesin a final volume of 0.05 ml containing 0.05 mM EDTA. The suspension was illuminated with anArgon-ion, continuous-wave laser. The mixed, 488.1 and 514.5 nm output was used, at irradiancesand for durations as indicated in the text. At the end of the laser exposure, the suspension waspassed through a 10M millipore filter and 0.02 ml of the filtrate was injected into a p-Bondapax-NH 2 column and eluted by 10 Mm ammonium phosphate. Under these conditions, the retentiontime of dehydroascorbic acid (DHA), the oxidized form of ascorbic acid, was 3.5 min, and that ofascorbic acid was about 6 min. The eluant was passed though a Waters Associates model 190 UVdetector (280nm filter) and then a Radiomatic model A200 radioactivity detector.Glutathione oxidation. 12.5 pl glutathione (0.1 M) was mixed with 12.5 P1 of melanin (10/ml) andexposed to the laser for 2 min. Reduced and oxidized glutathione were determined by high
pressure liquid chromatography using a Waters Associates Delta column, eluted by a mixture of3% acetonitrile and 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid. Absorbance was monitored at 210 nm.
RESULTS
In our recent report [6], we described light-dependent ascorbic acidoxidation mediated by RPE cells. The reaction, however, does not require intactcells, and is also enhanced by the presence of DHA in the reaction mixture, as wasthe case for intact cells (Table 1). Most of the activity was recovered in thefraction containing the melanin granules, following sonic disruption of the cells.For a given exposure, the amount of DHA produced by the laser exposure wasproportional to the log of the melanin granule concentration over the rangestudied (Figure 1).
Table 1Effect of sonication and DHA on Photooxidation of Ascorbic Acid.Effect of Sonication
nmol DHA formed after 2 min laser+10' RPE cells +10' granules2
number of analyses specified in parenthesis2Granules purified by centrifugation on 2 M sucrose. 5.16 x 10'granules/assay. Incubation volume was 50 jil.3DHA concentration: 5 mM.'Laser Exposure: 90 mW/cm2 for 120 sec.
In our previous investigations, the oxidation of ascorbic acid commencedwith the onset of the light exposure. To investigate this ffirther, we examined thetime course of the reaction during and after the light exposure. The experimentshown in Figure 2 illustrates that the reaction occurs only during light exposure,and ceases as soon as the light is turned off. Consecutive analyses of the reactionmixture following the laser exposure reveal that the ratio of oxidized and reducedascorbic acid remains stable, i.e. once the light is extinguished, there is no furtherascorbic acid oxidation. Because ascorbic acid oxidation begins as soon as the lightis turned on and stop.- immediately after the light is turned off, it is likely thatascorbic acid reacts directly with the light-activated melanin.
Figure. 1. The rate of ascorbic acidoxidation is dependent on melaninconcentration. Retinal pigmentepithelial cells brushed from 10
2.00 bovine eyes were suspended in 40 ml1.50 *of 0.25 M sucrose and recovered by
o.2-i.(x)-.5, centrifugation at 2000 rpm for 10O 1.00 min. The cells were resuspended
:.So into 1 ml sucrose. The cell
Argon Loser. 2 min,. 9o mwlcm suspension contained 5.4 X I0' RPEO.000.10 20 3W cells/ml, 6.2 X 106 red blood cells iml,
Melanin Granules (million.) and 1.0 X 10' free pigmentgranules/ml.
Figure 2. Termination of ascor!icacid oxidation after the laser
ascorbic acid incubated with 106melanin granules and exposed to the
V-CIASC + Lasr laser for 2 min at 90 mW/cm2 . The0.50 2 k suspension was filtered through a0.oo00 - &. Lmillipore membrane, and 10 pl of the
000 5 0 I filtiate was injected three times into
Time (mi) a p-Bondapax-NH 2 column. Thelarge peaks are ASC; the threeconsecutive DHA peaks are labeled 1,2, and 3.
Because GSH is present in ocular tissues and participates in an oxidation-reduction cycle through its oxidized intermediate (GSSG), we examined the extentto which glutathione could be oxidized by light-activated melanin. Glutathioneand oxidized glutathione were analyzed by high pressure liquid chromatographycapable of detecting picomole amounts of oxidized glutathione. There was nosignificant oxidation of glutathione after exposure to light (Figure 3).
DISCUSSION
The present observations document the occurrence of an efficient conversionof light energy into chemical energy in the retinal pigment epithelial cells. Thisreaction is very specific to ascorbic acid; for example, the other cytoplasmicreducing agent, glutathione, is ineffective. The rapid ascorbic acid oxidation
Figure 3. Glutathione does not reactwith light-activated melaningranules. Top: Reduced glutathione
500 _(GSH) and melanin granule mixtureGSH G Ls er .. was exposed to laser for 2 min at
C irradiance of -400 mW/cm 2. 2 plg oo aliquot then injected into Delta
So0 100. standards separated on Delta0 0 2 3 4 s 6 7 8 9 10 column.
Time (min)
converts light energy at moderate fluences to chemical energy instead of heatingthe melanin granules. As shown by studies of thermal damage mechanisms, hotmelanin granules are toxic to the RPE cells and photoreceptors [7].
Ascorbic acid and glutathione are the two major reducing agents in thecytoplasm. Although cytoplasmic glutathione may play a role in regeneratingascorbic acid from dehydroascorbic acid [8], glutathione apparently does not reactwith the energized melanin granules. Therefore, the present data indicate thatascorbic acid plays a very specific role in the photooxidative reaction of melaninand is probably not replaceable by other physiological reducing agents. Thesefindings indicate that ascorbic acid oxidation, coupled to light-activated melaningranules, converts excess light energy to chemical energy and thus preventsactivated melanin granules in the form of heat or as reactive radical species.
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pig retina under normal and light-exposed conditions. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 1983;24:862-867.
2 Tso, M.O.M., B.J. Woodford, and K-W. Lam. Distribution of ascorbate in normal primateretina and after photic injury. Curr. Eye Res. 1984; 3:181-191.
3 Fong, D., K Etzel, P.F. Lee, T. Y.-M. Lin, and K-W. Lam. Factors affecting ascorbateoxidation in aqueous humor. Curr. Eye Res. 1987; 6:357-361.
4 Lam, K-W., M. Berry, E.P. Edward, KS. Kaul, T. Lam, and M.O.M. Tso. The correlationof ascorbate-peroxidase activity with retinal photic susceptibility. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis.Sci. 1988; 29(ARVO Suppl):124.
5 Boettner, E.A. and J.R. Wolter. Transmission of the ocular media. Invest. Ophthalmol.1962; 1:776-783.
6 Glickman, R.D. and K.-W. Lam. Oxidation of ascorbic acid as an indicator ofphotooxidative stress in the eye. Photochem. Photobiol. (in press).
7 Hayes, J.R. and M.L. Wolbarsht. Thermal model for retinal damage induced by pulsedlasers. Aerospace Medicine 1968; 39:474-480.