Repetitive Nonlethal Oxidant Injury to Retinal Pigment Epithelium Decreased Extracellular Matrix Turnover In Vitro and Induced Sub-RPE Deposits In Vivo

Abstract

In cultured RPE, nonlethal injury with HQ upregulated nonlethal blebbing and decreased ECM turnover. Similarly, in vivo exposure to oral HQ induced nonlethal bleb injury and sub-RPE deposits. These data support the hypothesis that HQ may regulate blebbing and molecules that influence ECM turnover. This study suggests that HQ may be another type of oxidant that causes injury to the RPE and may explain the association between environmental oxidants and early AMD.