April 2014
Volume 55, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   April 2014
Metformin Inhibits TNFα-induced NFκB Signaling Pathway Activation in Human Retinal Vascular Endothelial Cells
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Xiaoxi Qiao
    Ophthalmology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI
  • Jing Han
    Ophthalmology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI
  • Xiuli Liu
    Ophthalmology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI
  • Tongrong Zhou
    Ophthalmology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI
  • Paul A Edwards
    Ophthalmology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI
  • Hua Gao
    Ophthalmology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships Xiaoxi Qiao, None; Jing Han, None; Xiuli Liu, None; Tongrong Zhou, None; Paul Edwards, None; Hua Gao, None
  • Footnotes
    Support None
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science April 2014, Vol.55, 4396. doi:
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      Xiaoxi Qiao, Jing Han, Xiuli Liu, Tongrong Zhou, Paul A Edwards, Hua Gao; Metformin Inhibits TNFα-induced NFκB Signaling Pathway Activation in Human Retinal Vascular Endothelial Cells. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2014;55(13):4396.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose: Metformin is a widely used anti-diabetic drug to treat type II diabetes. Our recent clinical study indicates that metformin may reduce the rate of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The purpose of this study was to determine if metformin has anti-inflammatory effect on human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (hRVECs) and its molecular mechanisms.

Methods: Early passages of primary human RVECs (ACBRI 181) were exposed to tumour necrosis factor-α (TNFα) with or without metformin treatment. The activity of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) was manipulated by AICAR, an AMPK activator, and compound C, an AMPK inhibitor. The production of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) was determined by ELISA. The expression levels of NFκB p65 and phosphorylated AMPK were assessed by western blot.

Results: TNFα at 2.5 ng/mL induced a marked upregulation of NFκB p65 expression by about 2.5-fold and associated increase of downstream inflammatory chemokine MCP-1 secretion by over 10-fold in hRVECs. Metformin pretreatment was able to block TNFα-induced activation of NFκB-MCP-1 pathway in a dose-dependent manner at a dose range of 5-40 mM. Significant reductions (over 50%) of both NFκB p65 protein level and MCP-1 secretion were noticed at low dose of 5 mM metformin (p < 0.05). AMPK activator AICAR (1 mM) elicited similar inhibitory effects on TNFα-induced increases of NFκB p65 level and MCP-1 production. In addition, metformin treatment induced dose-dependent increase of phosphorylated AMPK level either with or without TNFα challenge in hRVECs. Metformin’s inhibitory effects on NFκB p65 level and MCP-1 secretion were partially reversed by co-treatment with AMPK inhibitor compound C in hRVECs.

Conclusions: Metformin has significant anti-inflammatory effect to block TNFα-induced activation of NFκB-MCP-1 signalling pathway in hRVECs. Such effect is partially AMPK-dependent. These results support the notion that metformin treatment could be beneficial to protect retinal vascular endothelial cells from inflammatory insults present in diabetic retinopathy.

Keywords: 499 diabetic retinopathy • 557 inflammation • 503 drug toxicity/drug effects  
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