Hypertonicity enhances GABA uptake by cultured rat retinal capillary endothelial cells

Roles of Drug Transporters in Blood-Retinal Barrier

Blood-retinal barrier (BRB) includes inner BRB (iBRB) and outer BRB (oBRB), which are formed by retinal capillary endothelial (RCEC) cells and by retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in collaboration with Bruch's membrane and the choriocapillaris, respectively. Functions of the BRB are to regulate fluids and molecular movement between the ocular vascular beds and retinal tissues and to prevent leakage of macromolecules and other potentially harmful agents into the retina, keeping the microenvironment of the retina and retinal neurons. These functions are mainly attributed to absent fenestrations of RCECs, tight junctions, expression of a great diversity of transporters, and coverage of pericytes and glial cells. BRB existence also becomes a reason that systemic administration for some drugs is not suitable for the treatment of retinal diseases. Some diseases (such as diabetes and ischemia-reperfusion) impair BRB function via altering tight junctions, RCEC death, and transporter expression. This chapter will illustrate function of BRB, expressions and functions of these transporters, and their clinical significances.

Identification of competitive inhibitors of the human taurine transporter TauT in a human kidney cell line

BACKGROUND

The osmolyte and antioxidant taurine plays an important role in regulation of cellular volume, oxidative status and Ca²⁺-homeostasis. Taurine uptake in human cells is regulated by the Na⁺- and Cl^--dependent taurine transporter TauT. In order to gain deeper structural insights about the substrate binding pocket of TauT, a HEK293 cell line producing a GFP-TauT fusion protein was generated.

METHODS

Transport activity was validated using cell-based [³H]-taurine transport assays. We determined the K_m and IC₅₀ values of taurine, β-alanine and γ-aminobutyrate. Additionally we were able to identify structurally similar compounds as potential new substrates or inhibitors of the TauT transporter. Substrate induced cytotoxicity was analyzed using a cell viability assay.

RESULTS

In this study we show competitive effects of the 3-pyridinesulfonate, 2-aminoethylhydrogen sulfate, 5-aminovalerate, β-aminobutyrate, piperidine-4-sulfonate, 2-aminoethylphosphate and homotaurine. We demonstrate that taurine uptake can be inhibited by a phosphate. Furthermore our studies revealed that piperidine-4-sulfonate interacts with TauT with a higher affinity than γ-aminobutyrate and imidazole-4-acetate.

CONCLUSION

We propose that piperidine-4-sulfonate may serve as a potential lead structure for the design of novel drug candidates required for specific modulation of the TauT transporter in therapy of neurodegenerative diseases.

Osmolyte taurine induction in UVA exposed human retinal pigment epithelial cells

AIM

To explore the osmolytes expression in ultraviolet (UVA) stressed human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

METHODS

Osmolyte transporters and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) messenger RNA (mRNA) were determined by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Osmolyte uptake was measured by radioimmunoassay. VEGF concentrations were determined by immunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Osmolyte taurine transporter (TAUT) were silenced by siRNA technology.

RESULTS

Hypertonicity accelerated osmolyte betaine uptake, myoinositol uptake, and taurine uptake, compared to normotonic stress. UVA irradiation also accelerated osmolyte transporters expression and osmolytes uptake. Especially, osmolyte taurine remarkably inhibited VEGF release induced by UVA irradiation. VEGF in the UVA stressed retinal pigment epithelial cell supernatant was accumulated slow after taurine preincubation. VEGF expression increased significantly in UVA-stressed cells after TAUT silencing. Moreover, taurine reduced the VEGF level in human ocular aqueous humor.

CONCLUSION

The inhibition of VEGF by osmolyte taurine plays the crucial role in retina adaption to UVA irradiation.

Taurine inhibits interleukin-6 expression and release induced by ultraviolet B exposure to human retinal pigment epithelium cells

BACKGROUND

The massive uptake of compatible osmolytes is a self-protective response shared by retina exposed to hypertonic stress and ultraviolet stress.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of taurine against ultraviolet damage in human retinal pigment epithelium cells.

METHODS

Real-time PCR, radioimmunoassay, ELISA and immunoassay were used to measure osmolyte uptake and IL-6 expression.

RESULTS

Compared with normotonic stress, hypertonic stress led to an induction of osmolyte uptake including betaine, myoinositol and taurine. UVB exposure upregulated osmolyte transporter mRNA expression and increased osmolyte uptake respectively. Especially, taurine suppressed UVB-induced IL-6 mRNA expression significantly. The accumulation of IL-6 in UVB-exposed human retinal pigment epithelial cells supernatant was much slower when the cells were preincubated with taurine. Moreover, taurine suppressed IL-6 concentration in aqueous humour.

CONCLUSION

The effect of compatible osmolyte taurine on IL-6 expression and release may play an important role in cell resistance and adaption to UVB exposure.