Abstract
Purpose: :
Quercetin is a natural substance rich in grapes and red wine. Several studies have shown that Quercetin has an antioxidant and anti–proliferative effect on tumor cells. In this study, we examined the effect of Quercetin on angiogenesis in vitro using rhesus choroids–retina endothelial cell line (RF/6A).
Methods: :
RF/6A cells were cultured in DMEM culture medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum. Then cells were treated with different concentration (from 0 to 100 uM) of Quercetin. The cell proliferation was assessed using choromogenic methyl thiazol tetrazolium bromde (MTT) dye after 72 hours. Cell migration after 20–hour incubation with Quercetin was investigated by wound assay. Following exposure to the various concentrations of Quercetin for 72 hrs tube formation on matrigel by endothelial cells was also analyzed. Apoptosis was measured by phase–contrast microscopy and by flow cytometry using annexin V–FITC and propidium iodide staining.
Results: :
Quercetin inhibit endothelial cell proliferation in a dose–dependent fashion i.e. 12%, 29% and 79% inhibition on treating with 10, 50 and 100uM concentrations respectively. The migration of RA/6A cell was inhibited by Quercetin significantly also in a dose–dependent manner. Tube formation of Quercetin was inhibited slightly (IC50>100uM). Flow cytometric analysis showed that the percentages of apoptotic cells were significantly increased in 50uM and 100uM Quercetin treated cells (p<0.05). Conculsions: Our results show that Quercetin inhibits angiogenesis in vitro. It may be related to its ability to induce apoptosis of endothelial cells. Further studies are ongoing to evaluate this drug as a potential candidate for the treatment of choroidal or retinal neovascularization.
Keywords: retinal culture • proliferation • apoptosis/cell death