Activated microglia induce the production of reactive oxygen species and promote apoptosis of co-cultured retinal microvascular pericytes

Pericyte apoptosis is a predominant feature of early diabetic retinopathy. In diabetic retinopathy, activated microglia migrate and release proinflammatory cytokines that contribute to disruption of the blood-retinal barrier, neuronal loss, and enhanced ROS production. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are implicated in pericyte death; however, the mechanism by which activated microglia affect retinal microvascular pericytes is unclear. We hypothesized that activated microglia may promote pericyte apoptosis by enhancing ROS production. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated microglia and pericytes were co-cultured in a cell culture system. Pericyte ROS production and the mitochondrial membrane potential (Delta Im) were determined by flow cytometry. The pericyte protein expression levels of NADPH oxidase subunits, uncoupling protein 2, nuclear NF-kappa B-p65, and caspase-3 were determined by western blotting. One-way ANOVAs were used for statistical analysis. LPS successfully activated the microglia, as demonstrated by their morphological and phenotype changes and the significant increase in tumor necrosis factor secretion (P < 0.01). Co-culture with activated microglia significantly up-regulated NADPH oxidase subunits (NOX4, NOX2, and NCF1; P < 0.01) and down-regulated uncoupling protein 2 expression (P < 0.01) in pericytes. Pericyte ROS production increased by 20% in the activated microglia co-cultured group, and was inhibited by pretreatment with diphenyleneiodonium, coenzyme Q(10), and N-acetylcysteine. The proapoptotic pericyte changes induced by co-culture with activated microglia included a 9.50% decrease in pericyte Delta Im and significant increases in NF-kappa B-p65 nuclear translocation (P < 0.01) and activated caspase-3 (P < 0.01). These proapoptotic effects of activated microglia were inhibited by diphenyleneiodonium. Our results are consistent with our hypothesis that activated microglia may promote pericyte apoptosis by enhancing ROS production. Further studies are needed to examine retinal microglia activation and the corresponding changes in pericytes in a rat model of diabetes mellitus.