Retinoprotective Effects of Crocin and Crocetin via Anti-angiogenic Mechanism in High Glucose-Induced Human Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samaneh Sepahi ◽  
Zahra-Soheila Soheili ◽  
Jalil Tavakkol-Afshari ◽  
Soghra Mehri ◽  
Seyedeh Maryam Hosseini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ◽  
High Glucose ◽  
Pigment Epithelium ◽  
Retinal Pigment ◽  
Vascular Endothelial ◽  
Rpe Cells ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Endothelial Growth Factor

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most common side effects of diabetes. We aimed to investigate the effects of crocin and crocetin (as a deglycosylated form of crocin in blood stream) in gene expression or protein levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), vascular endothelial growth factor-receptor1 (VEGFR-1), matrix metalloproteinases2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinases9 (MMP-9) and thrombospondin-2 (TSP-2) in high glucose cell culture media. Methods: The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells were exposed to high glucose (HG, 30 mM glucose concentration) and normal glucose (NG, 24.5 mM mannitol + 5.5 mM glucose) for six days. RPE cells were treated in four treatment groups (crocin, crocetin, Bevacizumab, and crocin + Bevacizumab). Gene expressions were measured using quantitative real-time PCR, and proteins level was evaluated by western blot. Results: Findings showed that VEGF gene expression and protein level significantly decreased in all treatment groups. In addition, reduction in VEGFR1 gene expression was significantly higher in Bevacizumab and crocin + Bevacizumab groups than other groups. Only, crocin and crocetin could reduce the gene levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9. In addition, TSP-2 protein levels increased when HG cells were exposed crocin or crocin + Bevacizumab groups. Conclusion: Our data showed that crocin and crocetin have anti-VEGF function similar to Bevacizumab, act as an anti-angiogenic agent. Also, crocin and crocetin could decrease MMP-2 and MMP-9 gene levels, as inflammatory and angiogenesis factors. As a result, crocin and crocetin have protective effects against angiogenesis and inflammation in DR.

scholarly journals Effects of refraction and axial length on the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 205-209
Author(s):  
M.M. Bikbov ◽  
◽  
O.I. Orenburkina ◽  
A.E. Babushkin ◽  
A.A. Fakhretdinova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ◽  
Diabetic Retinopathy ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Axial Length ◽  
Pigment Epithelium ◽  
Retinal Pigment ◽  
Vascular Endothelial ◽  
Keywords Diabetic Retinopathy ◽  
Eye Disorders ◽  
Endothelial Growth Factor

Eye disorders have a special place in diabetes since visual impairment has a significant effect on the quality of life. Therefore, determining risk factors and prognostic criteria for disease course are essential for developing strategies for early prevention of diabetic retinopathy (DR). This paper addresses studies on various aspects of DR in patients with myopia. It was demonstrated that DR arises, develops, and progresses in different ways under various axial lengths (AL). Thus, many authors report that DR barely occurs in high myopia. Some of them account for this phenomenon for poor blood circulation in a long myopic eye. Others refer to a significantly lower vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration in longer eyes or eyes with myopic refraction. The third authors argue a focal disintegration of retinal pigment epithelium to eliminate metabolic end products through the choroid and sclera. As a result, neither acidosis nor venous congestion develops, and endothelial barrier function remains unaffected Keywords: diabetic retinopathy, myopia, axial length, vascular endothelial growth factor, emmetropia, hyperopia, diabetes. For citation: Bikbov M.M., Orenburkina O.I., Babushkin A.E., Fakhretdinova A.A. Effects of refraction and axial length on the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy. Russian Journal of Clinical Ophthalmology. 2021;21(4):205–209 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2311-7729- 2021-21-4-205-209.

scholarly journals Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in response to high glucose in rat mesangial cells

2000 ◽  
Vol 165 (3) ◽  
pp. 617-624 ◽  
Author(s):  
NH Kim ◽  
HH Jung ◽  
DR Cha ◽  
DS Choi
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ◽  
Diabetic Nephropathy ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
High Glucose ◽  
Mesangial Cells ◽  
Vascular Endothelial ◽  
Vegf Expression ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Calphostin C ◽  
Endothelial Growth Factor

Diabetic nephropathy associated with hyperglycemia is characterized by glomerular hyperfiltration and endothelial dysfunction. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to be primarily involved in neoangiogenesis and increased endothelial permeability. The purpose of this study was to investigate VEGF expression in response to high glucose in rat cultured mesangial cells and to identify its signal pathway via protein kinase C (PKC). Rat mesangial cells were cultured with different concentrations of glucose: normal (5 mM d-glucose), medium (15 mM d-glucose) and high (30 mm d-glucose). Calphostin-C as a PKC inhibitor and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) as a PKC downregulator were instillated into culture media to evaluate the role of PKC in mediating the glucose-induced increase in VEGF expression. High glucose increased expression of VEGF at the mRNA and protein levels, identified by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and western blotting, within 3 h and in a time- and glucose concentration-dependent manner. Calphostin-C and PMA inhibited glucose-induced increases in VEGF expression at the mRNA and protein levels. In conclusion, high glucose can directly increase VEGF expression in rat mesangial cells via a PKC-dependent mechanism. These results suggest that VEGF could be a potential mediator of glomerular hyperfiltration and proteinuria in diabetic nephropathy.

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