Recharging mitochondrial batteries in old eyes. Near infra-red increases ATP.


Author: Gkotsi D1, Begum R1, Salt T1, Lascaratos G2, Hogg C2, Chau KY3, Schapira AH3, Jeffery G4.

Affiliation: 1Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK. 2Moorfields Eye Hospital, UK. 3Institute of Neurology, University College London, UK. 4Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK. Electronic address: g.jeffery@ucl.ac.uk.
Conference/Journal: Exp Eye Res. 
Date published: 2014 May
Other:
 Volume ID: 122   ,  Pages: 50-3   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2014.02.023   ,  Word Count: 200  
    

Progressive accumulation of age related mitochondrial DNA mutations reduce ATP production and increase reactive oxygen species output, leading to oxidative stress, inflammation and degradation. The pace of this is linked to metabolic demand. The retina has the greatest metabolic demand and mitochondrial density in the body and displays progressive age related inflammation and marked cell loss. Near infra-red (670 nm) is thought to be absorbed by cytochrome c oxidase (COX), a key element in mitochondrial respiration and it has been demonstrated that it improves mitochondrial membrane potentials in aged eyes. It also significantly reduces the impact of experimental pathology and ameliorates age related retinal inflammation. We show ATP decline with ageing in mouse retina and brain. Also, in these tissues that ATP is significantly increased by 670 nm exposure in old mice. In the retina this was associated with increased COX and reduced acrolein expression. Acrolein, being a free radical marker of retinal oxidative stress, is up regulated in Alzheimer's and retinal degeneration. This is the first demonstration of ATP manipulation in vivo and may provide a simple non-invasive route to combating age related tissue decline.

Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

KEYWORDS:

ageing; mitochondrial DNA; photoreceptor



PMID: 24631333