Effect of Creatine on the Survival of RGC-5 Cells under Serum Deprivation.

Kim, Jae Woo; Hong, Jung Heum; Kang, Sun Hee; Kim, Yun Young

doi:2011.52.5.618

J Korean Ophthalmol Soc > Volume 52(5); 2011 > Article

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2011;52(5):618-623.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2011.52.5.618 Published online May 15, 2011.

Effect of Creatine on the Survival of RGC-5 Cells under Serum Deprivation.

Jae Woo Kim, Jung Heum Hong, Sun Hee Kang, Yun Young Kim

Department of Ophthalmology, Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea. jwkim@cu.ac.kr

혈청결핍 상태에서 크레아틴이 RGC-5세포의 생존에 미치는 영향

김재우⋅홍정흠⋅강선희⋅김윤영

Department of Ophthalmology, Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the protective effect of creatine on the survival of retinal ganglion cells after serum deprivation. METHODS: RGC-5 cells were exposed to 5 mM creatine with serum-free media for 4 days. Cellular survival and mitochondrial respiratory activity were measured with MTT assay and resazurin assay, respectively. Degree of apoptosis was evaluated with vital staining using acridine orange/Hoechest 33342 and flow cytometric analysis using annexin/PI, respectively. RESULTS: Creatine increased cellular survival of RGC-5 cells significantly after serum deprivation. Additionally, creatine increased mitochondrial respiratory activity and inhibited apoptosis of RGC-5 cells. CONCLUSIONS: The energy precursor creatine increased survival of retinal ganglion cells after serum deprivation. Creatine could be relevant for the cytoprotection of retinal ganglion cells.

Key Words: Creatine;Cytoprotection;Retinal ganglion cells