Abstract
Purpose:
To evaluate the effects of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor(statins) on the expression of catalase in human retinal pigment epithelial cells.
Methods:
RPE cells were incubated for 6 hours with various concentrations (0, 1, 2.5, 5, 10µM) of simvastatin. After 6 hours of incubation, real time PCR was peformed to evaluate the expression of catalase mRNA and western blot was performed to evaluate the expression of catalase in RPE cells.
Results:
Catalase and catalase mRNA were maximally expressed when the human RPE cells treated with 10µM of simvastatin for 6 hours. Also the human RPE cells showed concentration-dependent expression of catalase and catalase mRNA when treated with concentrations of simvastatin for 6 hours.
Conclusions:
Simvastatin upregulates the expression of catalase in human RPE cells. Simvastatin may have some clinical benefits in preventing retinal diseases associated with oxidative stress, such as age-related macular degeneration.
Keywords: 701 retinal pigment epithelium