Photosensitized Oxidative Stress to ARPE-19 Cells Decreases Protein Receptors that Mediate Photoreceptor Outer Segment Phagocytosis

Purpose. To determine whether previously shown photodynamic (PD)-induced inhibition of specific photoreceptor outer segment (POS) phagocytosis by ARPE-19 cells is associated with reductions in receptor proteins mediating POS phagocytosis, and if PD treatment with merocyanine-540 (MC-540) produces additional effects leading to its inhibition of nonspecific phagocytosis.