Mitochondrial quality control protects photoreceptors against oxidative stress in the H2O2-induced models of retinal degeneration diseases

Retinal degeneration diseases (RDDs) are common and devastating eye diseases characterized by the degeneration of photoreceptors, which are highly associated with oxidative stress. Previous studies reported that mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with various neurodegenerative diseases. However, the role of mitochondrial proteostasis mainly regulated by Mitophagy and mitochondrial unfolded protein response (mtUPR) in RDDs is unclear. We hypothesized that the mitochondrial proteostasis is neuroprotective against oxidative injury in RDDs. In this study, the data from our hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-treated mouse retinal cone cell line (661w) model of RDDs showed that nicotinamide riboside (NR)-activated Mitophagy increased the expression of LC3B II and PINK1, and promoted the co-localization of LC3 and mitochondria, as well as PINK1 and Parkin in the H₂O₂-treated 661w cells. However, the NR-induced Mitophagy was remarkably reversed by chloroquine (CQ) and cyclosporine A (CsA), mitophagic inhibitors. In addition, doxycycline (DOX), an inducer of mtUPR, up-regulated the expression of HSP60 and CHOP, the key proteins of mtUPR. Activation of both Mitophagy and mtUPR increased the cell viability and reduced the level of Apoptosis and oxidative damage in the H₂O₂-treated 661w cells. Furthermore, both Mitophagy and mtUPR played a protective effect on mitochondria by increasing mitochondrial membrane potential and maintaining mitochondrial mass. By contrast, the inhibition of Mitophagy by CQ or CsA reversed the beneficial effect of Mitophagy in the H₂O₂-treated 661w cells. Together, our study suggests that the Mitophagy and mtUPR pathways may serve as new therapeutic targets to delay the progression of RDDs through enhancing mitochondrial proteostasis.