Retinal function declines with age as evidenced clinically by a variety of age-related retinopathies. One of the most obvious age- related changes in the retina is the accumulation of lipofuscin granules within the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). These granules appear to be lysosomal storage granules filled with autofluorescent compounds. None of these compounds have yet been identified as to their chemical structure or source of origin. It is the purpose of the present proposal to identify these fluorescent compounds and to study their possible involvement in vitamin A metabolism in the RPE. Three approaches will be used: in vitro, analytical and cell biological. Unphagocytosed photoreceptor outer segments, (POS) develop lipofuscin-like fluorescence in the RCS rat. This fluorescence is affected by dietary vitamin A, as is RPE lipofuscin fluorescence in normal rats. In vitro conditions for generation of this vitamin-A related fluorescence in POS will be identified and optimized. This in vitro system will then be refined and systematically analyzed to identify the chemical reactants and mechanisms involved. Thin- layer chromatography and absorbance and corrected fluorescence spectroscopy will be used to monitor the fluorophores. RPE tissue cultures will then be used to study the conversion of the POS fluorophores into RPE lipofuscin fluorophores. To verify the chemistry deduced by these experiments, new techniques for the mass spectral analysis of thermally labile and nonvolatile compounds will be applied to the structural identification of the fluorescent molecules which have been purified. Upon identification, quantitative assays for the individual fluorophores will be established. These assays will be used to study lipofuscin composition in different regions of the retina. Immunogold labelling will be used to localize specific fluorophores in the POS, RPE lipofuscin, and any other subcellular site where these compounds may be having an influence on vitamin A metabolism. Finally, experiments into the ability of lipofuscin to act as an exchangeable reservoir for various vitamin A derivatives will be conducted utilizing radiolabelled retinoids as tracers. These studies promise to yield for the first time an unequivocal identification of the fluorophores and direct evidence on the mechanisms of lipofuscin granule accumulation in the RPE. In addition, information on the influence of lipofuscin on vitamin A metabolism in the aging retina, with possible direct correlations to clinically verified cases of age-related macular degenerations will be gained.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01EY006458-04
Application #
3262582
Study Section
Visual Sciences A Study Section (VISA)
Project Start
1986-04-01
Project End
1994-03-31
Budget Start
1989-04-01
Budget End
1990-03-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1989
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Missouri-Columbia
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
112205955
City
Columbia
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
65211
Katz, M L; Christianson, J S; Gao, C L et al. (1994) Iron-induced fluorescence in the retina: dependence on vitamin A. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 35:3613-24
Katz, M L; Stientjes, H J; Gao, C L et al. (1993) Iron-induced accumulation of lipofuscin-like fluorescent pigment in the retinal pigment epithelium. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 34:3161-71
Katz, M L; White, H A; Gao, C L et al. (1993) Dietary restriction slows age pigment accumulation in the retinal pigment epithelium. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 34:3297-302
Katz, M L; Gao, C L; Stientjes, H J (1993) Regulation of the interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein content of the retina by vitamin A. Exp Eye Res 57:393-401
Katz, M L; Norberg, M (1992) Influence of dietary vitamin A on autofluorescence of leupeptin-induced inclusions in the retinal pigment epithelium. Exp Eye Res 54:239-46
Katz, M L; Kutryb, M J; Norberg, M et al. (1991) Maintenance of opsin density in photoreceptor outer segments of retinoid-deprived rats. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 32:1968-80
Katz, M L; Rodrigues, M (1991) Juvenile ceroid lipofuscinosis. Evidence for methylated lysine in neural storage body protein. Am J Pathol 138:323-32
Katz, M L; Shanker, M J (1989) Development of lipofuscin-like fluorescence in the retinal pigment epithelium in response to protease inhibitor treatment. Mech Ageing Dev 49:23-40
Katz, M L; Eldred, G E (1989) Retinal light damage reduces autofluorescent pigment deposition in the retinal pigment epithelium. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 30:37-43
Katz, M L (1989) Incomplete proteolysis may contribute to lipofuscin accumulation in the retinal pigment epithelium. Adv Exp Med Biol 266:109-16;discussion 116-8

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