Abstract
Purpose :
To investigate the effects of triptolide on choroidal neovascularization (CNV) using a laser-induced mouse model.
Methods :
The laser photocoagulation was performed to induce CNV in C57BL/6J mice, followed by the intraperitoneal injection of triptolide or vehicle. Seven days after the treatment, the CNV sizes were evaluated using choroidal flatmount technique. The leakages of laser spots were measured by fundus fluorescein angiography. Effects of triptolide on the proliferation, migration and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were studied in vitro. Effects of triptolide on the viability of human retinal pigment epithelium cell line (ARPE19) were studied in vitro. The toxicity of triptolide on retina, liver, kidney and heart were evaluated.
Results :
Triptolide significantly suppressed the CNV formation in a dose-dependent manner and significantly alleviated the laser spot leakage in laser-induced CNV mouse model. Triptolide was not significantly toxic on retina, liver, kidney and heart at 0.07mg/kg BW. Triptolide significantly suppressed the proliferation, migration and tube formation of HUVECs. Triptolide at 600 ng/ml did not compromise the viability of ARPE19 cells at 24 hours.
Conclusions :
Triptolide can be potentially used as a novel chemical therapy for CNV.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.