Abstract
Purpose :
To investigate the protective effect of Quji Tongluo (QJTL) decoction in human retinal pigment epithelial cell (ARPE-19) against hypoxia-induced injury.
Methods :
The optima concentrations of CoCl2, QJTL decoction and Ag490 were screened by CCK-8. ARPE-19 cells were divided into different groups: normal control group (A group), model group (B group), AG490 group (C group), blank drug-contained serum (DCS) group (D group), QJTL DCS group (E group) and QJTL DCS combined with colivelin group (F group) (n=3, in each group). Cell migration and invasion was evaluated. The Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of JAK2, STAT3, P-JAK2, and P-STAT3 in these groups, while Q-PCR was employed to detect the mRNA expression levels of JAK2 and STAT3.
Results :
The CCK-8 assay demonstrated that the viability of ARPE-19 cells in the intervention groups, with a CoCl2 concentration exceeding 200 μmol/L, exhibited a significant decrease. The migration and invasion ability in the B group were significantly increased compared to A group (P＜0.01). The Western blot and Q-PCR findings indicated that protein levels of JAK2, P-JAK2, STAT3, and P-STAT3, along with the mRNA levels of JAK2 and STAT3, were higher in B group compared to A group (all P<0.01). ARPE-19 cell viability was significantly decreased when AG490 concentration was higher than 20umol/L or QJTL DCS concentration was higher than 12.5% (all P<0.01). Compared with B group, the migration and invasion abilities, as well as the levels of JAK2 and STAT3 mRNA, and JAK2 and P-STAT3 protein expression were reduced in E group and C group (P＜0.01), and the level of P-JAK2 protein in the E group was markedly reduced (P＜0.01), which did not show any difference in C group (P＞0.05). E group exhibited a decrease in the level of STAT3 protein, but the difference was not statistically significant. In D group, no differences were observed in migration and invasion abilities, expression levels of proteins and mRNAs (all P＞0.05). Compared with E group, the rate of migration and ability to invade, along with the levels of STAT3 mRNA and P-JAK2 and P-STAT3 proteins, were higher in the F group (all P<0.05).
Conclusions :
QJTL decoction can safeguard ARPE-19 cells against hypoxic damage by suppressing the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.