Oxidative Stress Induces a VEGF Autocrine Loop in the Retina: Relevance for Diabetic Retinopathy

Autor: Maria Grazia Rossino, Matteo Lulli, Rosario Amato, Maurizio Cammalleri, Massimo Dal Monte, Giovanni Casini
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2020
Předmět:
Zdroj: Cells, Vol 9, Iss 6, p 1452 (2020)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2073-4409
DOI: 10.3390/cells9061452
Popis: Background: Oxidative stress (OS) plays a central role in diabetic retinopathy (DR), triggering expression and release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the increase of which leads to deleterious vascular changes. We tested the hypothesis that OS-stimulated VEGF induces its own expression with an autocrine mechanism. Methods: MIO-M1 cells and ex vivo mouse retinal explants were treated with OS, with exogenous VEGF or with conditioned media (CM) from OS-stressed cultures. Results: Both in MIO-M1 cells and in retinal explants, OS or exogenous VEGF induced a significant increase of VEGF mRNA, which was abolished by VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) inhibition. OS also caused VEGF release. In MIO-M1 cells, CM induced VEGF expression, which was abolished by a VEGFR-2 inhibitor. Moreover, the OS-induced increase of VEGF mRNA was abolished by a nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) blocker, while the effect of exo-VEGF resulted Nrf2-independent. Finally, both the exo-VEGF- and the OS-induced increase of VEGF expression were blocked by a hypoxia-inducible factor-1 inhibitor. Conclusions: These results are consistent with the existence of a retinal VEGF autocrine loop triggered by OS. This mechanism may significantly contribute to the maintenance of elevated VEGF levels and therefore it may be of central importance for the onset and development of DR.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals
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