Protective effect of astragalosides IV on retinal pigmentepithelium injury induced by methylglyoxal / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

Aim To investigate the protective effect of astragaloside IV (AS-Ⅳ) on human retinal pigment epithelium injury induced by methylglyoxal (MGO), and explore its molecular mechanism.Methods The injury of ARPE-19 cells was induced by MGO and the cell viability was measured by CCK-8 method.The morphology of cell nucleus was analyzed by Hoechst 33342 staining and the cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry to detect labbled Annexin V-FITC/PI.JC-1 staining and fluorescence probe DCFH-DA were employed to evaluate the change of mitochondrial membrane potential and reactive oxygen species (ROS).The levels of SOD, MDA, caspase-9 and caspase-3 were determined by respective kits.Western blot was used to analyse the expression of Bcl-2, Bax and PARP.Results AS-Ⅳ could significantly inhibit the decrease of cell viability induced by MGO, improve the morphology of cell nucleus, reduce the ARPE-19 cell apoptosis rate and the level of ROS and MDA, and increase the activity of SOD.Furthermore, AS-Ⅳ could enhance mitochondrial membrane potential, the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and the expression of PARP, and inhibit the activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3.Conclusion AS-Ⅳ may protect ARPE-19 cells from the injury induced by MGO by increasing the antioxidant ability of ARPE-19 cells and inhibiting cell apoptosis.