Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of vascular endothelial growth
factor (VEGF) in response to retinoic acid (RA) in human retinal pigment epithelial cells.
Methods: Expression of VEGF in human ARPE-19 cells was determined by a semiquantitative
reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent
assay (ELISA). mRNA stability was assessed after the administration of actinomycin
D. The induction of the VEGF gene by various RAs was also determined by
semiquantitative RT–PCR.
Results: All-trans retinoic acid (atRA) time-dependently increased VEGF mRNA levels. The
effect of atRA was dose-dependent in a range between 10−7 M and 10−6 M. Treatment with
actinomycin D revealed that atRA induces the VEGF gene at the transcriptional level. Of the
various RAs tested, atRA was the most potent inducer of the VEGF gene.
Conclusions: We demonstrated that atRA stimulates the induction of the VEGF gene in
ARPE-19 cells, suggesting a novel pathway for the development of age-related macular degeneration.
