Antiangiogenic Effect of Quercetin on Laser-Induced Choroidal Neovascularization in Mice

Abstract

Purpose: Quercetin, one of the most widely distributed flavonoids in nature, possesses various potential properties including an antioxidant effect on cellular damage. In this study, we investigate the impact of quercetin on laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in mice.

Methods: Male C57Bl/6 mice (7-8 weeks old) were treated in accordance with the ARVO Statement for the Use of Animals in Ophthalmic and Vision Research. CNV was induced by laser photocoagulation (200mW, 75μm, 100msec). The animals were fed the mixture diet containing 0.5%, 0.1%, 0.02% quercetin or control diet without quercetin for 14 days before laser photocoagulation and the treatment was continued until the end of the study. Seven days after laser injury, choroidal flat mounts were prepared and the size of the CNV lesions was quantified. The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-choroid complex was harvested 3 days after laser injury and the levels of inflammation-associated molecules, monocyte chemoattractant protein (ΜCP)-1 and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: The animals treated with quercetin showed a dose-dependent reduction in CNV size and a significant decrease in CNV size was observed in animals treated with 0.5% quercetin (15953±1838µm²) compared to controls (22956±1777µm², p<0.05). In addition, quercetin significantly reduced the protein levels of MCP-1 (p<0.05) and ICAM-1 (p<0.05) in the RPE-choroid complex.

Conclusions: The current data indicate the antiangiogenic effect of quercetin on CNV in mice.

Keywords: 453 choroid: neovascularization