Abstract
Purpose :
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a sight-threatening disease in the elderly with little treatment options. Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) have been shown to be beneficial in eye health but their effect on AMD is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the effects of LBP on Amyloid beta1-40 oligomers-induced retinal pigment epithelium 19 (ARPE-19) damage, an in vitro model of AMD and the associated mechanisms.
Methods :
Amyloid beta1-40 (Abeta1-40) oligomers were prepared and verified by Western blot. ARPE-19 cells were cultured and exposed to Abeta1-40 oligomers with or without 24hr-LBP treatment. Cell morphological changes were examined by light microscopy. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to detect cell viability. Protein expressions were evaluated by immunofluorescence assay.
Results :
LBP exerted no obvious toxic effects on ARPE-19 cells at a low (100mg/L) and high (400mg/L) concentration while disrupting Abeta1-40 oligomerization in a dose-dependent manner. Abeta1-40 oligomers (20μM) significantly decreased cell viability after 48h with obvious morphological changes. Yet, LBP treatment for 24h at both low and high concentrations effectively increased cell viability and improved cell morphology. In addition, the increased expressions of Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, Interleukin-1beta, and Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as well as ROS level after Abeta1-40 oligomers exposure were down-regulated by LBP treatment. Furthermore, Abeta1-40 oligomers exposure up-regulated expressions of ASC, caspase-1 and GSDMD and therefore activated the cell pyroptosis pathway, which however, were subsequently down-regulated by LBP treatment at both low and high concentrations.
Conclusions :
Lycium barbarum polysaccharides effectively protected ARPE-19 cells from Amyloid beta1-40 oligomers-induced damage by anti-amyloid beta1-40 oligomerization, anti-inflammation and anti-oxidative stress as well as anti-cell pyroptosis. Moreover, LBP may prevent angiogenesis in further development of AMD by down-regulating VEGF expression.
This is a 2020 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.