Abstract
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to determine whether fluocinolone inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in a retinal pigment epithelial cell line (ARPE-19) and TNF-α–induced angiogenesis in chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay.
Methods:
The dose-dependent effect of fluocinolone (0.0001–1 μM) on VEGF secretion, VEGF mRNA expression, and cytotoxicity was determined in confluent monolayers of ARPE-19 cells using ELISA, RT-PCR, and MTT assay, respectively. The effect of a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist (RU486) on fluocinolone-mediated VEGF expression was determined. The effect of fluocinolone in inhibiting TNF-α–induced angiogenesis was determined using chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. The dose-dependent effect of fluocinolone (0.0001–1 μM) in inhibiting 1% serum-stimulated ARPE-19 cell proliferation was determined using BrdU labeling assay.
Results:
At concentrations devoid of cytotoxicity, fluocinolone inhibited VEGF secretion as well as mRNA expression in ARPE-19 cells. RU486 (1 μM) treatment prevented inhibition of VEGF secretion and VEGF mRNA expression by fluocinolone (0.1 μM). Fluocinolone (50 ng/egg) inhibited angiogenesis induced by TNF-α. The ARPE-19 cell proliferation was inhibited by fluocinolone in a dose-dependent manner.
Conclusions:
Fluocinolone inhibited VEGF expression in ARPE-19 cells via its glucocorticoid receptor activity. In addition, fluocinolone inhibited proliferation of ARPE-19 cells and TNF-α–induced angiogenesis in chorioallantoic membranes.
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