June 2017
Volume 58, Issue 8
Open Access
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   June 2017
A New Role for Taurine in Retina: Modulation of Bisretinoid Formation
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Hye Jin Kim
    Ophthalmology, Columbia University Medical Center, NY, New York, United States
  • Jin Zhao
    Ophthalmology, Columbia University Medical Center, NY, New York, United States
  • Janet R Sparrow
    Ophthalmology, Columbia University Medical Center, NY, New York, United States
    Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, NY, New York, United States
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   Hye Jin Kim, None; Jin Zhao, None; Janet Sparrow, None
  • Footnotes
    Support  National Eye Institute/ EY12951 and P30EY019007, a grant from Research to Prevent Blindness to the Department of Ophthalmology
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science June 2017, Vol.58, 3582. doi:
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      Hye Jin Kim, Jin Zhao, Janet R Sparrow; A New Role for Taurine in Retina: Modulation of Bisretinoid Formation. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2017;58(8):3582.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose : Taurine is an endogenous sulfur-containing amino acid that carries a primary amine. Taurine is not incorporated into protein but concentrations are particularly high in retina. The function of taurine in retina is not clear. Here we sought to understand the mechanisms by which taurine may protect retina by reducing the formation of RPE lipofuscin bisretinoid.

Methods : Retinaldehyde-taurine adducts and bisretinoids were measured by UPLC-MS. Albino and agouti Abca4 null mutant mice (Abca4-/-, Rpe65-Leu450) mice were studied. Non-invasive quantitative fundus autofluorescence (qAF, 488 nm) served as an indirect measure of bisretinoid lipofuscin of retina.

Results : We detected the reversible Schiff base adduct of one retinaldehyde and taurine (A1T) in human, mouse and bovine retina by UPLC-MS. We did not detect A2-taurine, the non-reversible undesirable condensation product of taurine with 2 vitamin A-aldehyde. In assays utilizing isolated bovine outer segments with the addition of taurine and all-trans-retinal, A1-taurine formed and production of the bisretinoids all-trans-retinal dimer and A2PE (A2E precursor) were reduced. By non-invasive quantitative fundus autofluorescence (qAF) (488 nm excitation; Heidelberg Spectralis) oral delivery of taurine (25 grams per liter in drinking water) to agouti Abca4-/- mice (age 1 to 4 months) resulted in a 19.5% reduction in qAF versus control (1.08±0.09 qAF units versus 0.87±0.05 qAF units; mean±SEM). Taurine deficiency induced in albino Abca4-/- mice by a competitive inhibitor guanidinoethyl sulfonate (GES; 10 grams per liter in drinking water; age 1 to 3 months) of the Na+-dependent taurine transporter resulted in an increase in qAF (GES: 0.91±0.04 qAF units; control: 0.77±0.03 qAF units; mean±SEM, p < 0.05).

Conclusions : The formation of A1-taurine indicates that taurine can sequester retinaldehyde. Temporary sequestration has the potential to suppress bisretinoid formation. For instance, sequestration of retinaldehyde by taurine could aid the reduction of the aldehyde moiety to a non-toxic alcohol by retinol dehydrogenase. Accordingly, we observed a reduction in qAF.

This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2017 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Baltimore, MD, May 7-11, 2017.

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