Human, but not bovine, photoreceptor outer segments prime human retinal pigment epithelial cells for metabolic activation and massive oxidant release in response to lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma

Abstract

Reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs) may contribute to several eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration, although the underlying mechanisms are unclear. The present study shows that human photoreceptor outer segments (POS) prime human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells for massive ROM release in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-gamma. However, no ROM priming of human RPE cells is observed for bovine POS. ROM production appears to be linked with underlying metabolic oscillations involving the hexose monophosphate shunt.