ABSTRACT
AIM: To study p42/p44 mitogen - activated protein kinases ( MAPK ) signal transduction pathway effect on vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF ) expression induced by elevated glucose concentration in cultured human retinal pigment epithelium ( hRPE) . METHODS:hRPE cells were cultured and divided into four groups:normal glucose group (NG) (5. 6mmol/L), high glucose group ( HG1:15mmol/L D-glucose, HG2:20mmol/L D - glucose, HG3:30mmol/L D - glucose ), PD98059 group: hRPE cells were treated by an efficient and selective inhibitor PD98059 (20μmol/L) of p42/p44MAPK signal transduction pathway and solvent dimethyl sulfoxide group ( DMSO group) . The expression of VEGF and pigment epithelium derived factor ( PEDF ) mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. VEGF protein expression in cultured hRPE supernatants was detected by enzyme-linked immumosorbent assay ( ELISA) . RUSULTS: VEGF mRNA and protein expression induced by elevated glucose concentration increased significantly. VEGF mRNA and protein expression were restrained in PD98059 group. Ratio of ( VEGF/β-actine)/( PEDF/β - actine ) in PD98059 group decreased significantly compare with that in high glucose group. CONCLUSION: p42/p44MAPK signal transduction pathway might play a part in VEGF expression induced by elevated glucose concentration in cultured hRPE cells.