Abstract
Purpose: :
To compare the ability of bevacizumab and EGCG to regulate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF) on an intraocular inflammation model in rodents.
Methods: :
We induced intraocular inflammation with intraocular injection of 0.1 ml (200mg/Kg) lipopolysacharides (LPS) in 18 Wistar rats. We divided our population in three groups. Group A received an intraperitoneal injection of EGCG (1ml of 300mg/ml), group B was injected with 1ml of intraperitoneal bevacizumab (2.25ml/ml) and group C received balanced salt solution as a control group. The eyes were enucleated 8hr, 12hr and 24hrs after the intraperitoneal injection. Tissue processing and RT-PCR were performed to measure VEGF and PEDF expression levels on the retina.
Results: :
Expression levels of VEGF and PEDF were modified in each group. We observed that EGCG and bevacizumab induced an over-expression of PEDF and negative-expression of VEGF. At 8hrs in group A & B there was a lower expression of VEGF; at 12hrs in group A the expression of VEGF was higher than in group B, in which levels continued to be lower. At 24 hours, VEGF was over-expressed when compared with PEDF in the three groups.
Conclusions: :
ECGC is capable of inhibit the expression of VEGF. Further more, electrophysiologic, histologic and dose evaluation studies are needed, before testing this drug in humans.
Keywords: drug toxicity/drug effects • retina • antioxidants