Pigment epithelium-derived factor inhibits advanced glycation end-products-induced cytotoxicity in retinal pericytes

Aim

This study investigated the effects of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) on advanced glycation end-product (AGE)-induced cytotoxicity in porcine retinal pericytes and the signalling mechanism involved.

Methods

Retinal pericytes were isolated from porcine eyes and characterized by immunocytochemistry. The effect of AGEs and PEDF on cell proliferation was determined by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) assay. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activity was analyzed by luminescence assay. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH) were determined by biochemical assays. Induction of apoptosis was determined by caspase-3 colorimetric assay and DNA fragmentation analysis. Src activity was assessed by transient transfection analysis, and the status of Src phosphorylation at Y419 was analyzed by a competitive ELISA method.

Results

AGEs significantly increased intracellular ROS generation in pericytes via NADPH oxidase and induced cell death via caspase-3 enzyme activation, whereas PEDF increased cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, PEDF inhibited AGE-induced ROS generation by increasing levels of SOD and GSH, and also blocked the activation of caspase-3. Furthermore, PEDF induced cell survival via the Src pathway by Src phosphorylation at Y419, as evidenced by a pharmacological inhibitor and Src mutants.

Conclusion

These results suggest that PEDF abrogates AGE-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in retinal pericytes via the Src pathway, thereby suggesting that PEDF is an effective therapeutic agent for the treatment of loss of pericytes in early diabetic retinopathy.     

Pigment epithelium-derived factor mitigates inflammation and oxidative stress in retinal pericytes exposed to oxidized low-density lipoprotein

Oxidized and/or glycated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) may mediate capillary injury in diabetic retinopathy. The mechanisms may involve pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidant effects on retinal capillary pericytes. In this study, these effects, and the protective effects of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), were defined in a primary human pericyte model. Human retinal pericytes were exposed to 100 microg/ml native LDL (N-LDL) or heavily oxidized glycated LDL (HOG-LDL) with or without PEDF at 10-160 nM for 24 h. To assess pro-inflammatory effects, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) secretion was measured by ELISA, and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation was detected by immunocytochemistry. Oxidative stress was determined by measuring intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) formation, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, and nitric oxide (NO) production. The results showed that MCP-1 was significantly increased by HOG-LDL, and the effect was attenuated by PEDF in a dose-dependent manner. PEDF also attenuated the HOG-LDL-induced NF-kappaB activation, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of PEDF on MCP-1 was at least partially through the blockade of NF-kappaB activation. Further studies demonstrated that HOG-LDL, but not N-LDL, significantly increased ONOO(-) formation, NO production, and iNOS expression. These changes were also alleviated by PEDF. Moreover, PEDF significantly ameliorated HOG-LDL-induced ROS generation through up-regulation of superoxide dismutase 1 expression. Taken together, these results demonstrate pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidant effects of HOG-LDL on retinal pericytes, which were effectively ameliorated by PEDF. Suppressing MCP-1 production and thus inhibiting macrophage recruitment may represent a new mechanism for the salutary effect of PEDF in diabetic retinopathy and warrants more studies in future.     

色素上皮衍生因子与糖尿病视网膜病变

色素上皮衍生因子(PEDF)来源于人视网膜色素上皮细胞,是眼内有效的血管生成抑制剂,对保持正常眼组织透明无血管的状态有重要作用。PEDF能对抗多种促血管生成因子,有针对性地抑制病理性血管生成,延缓糖尿病视网膜病变的进展,发挥保护作用。同时,PEDF在眼部浓度降低可增加糖尿病视网膜病变的危险。其作用机制仍在探索中。外源性应用PEDF及进行基因治疗对眼部血管增生性疾病具有显著疗效。因此,深入研究可能会发现PEDF治疗临床血管增生性疾病更广泛的作用。     

色素上皮衍生因子与糖尿病肾病

色素上皮衍生因子(PEDF)是一种高效、天然的血管增生抑制剂,具有神经营养保护、调节血管通透性和高效抑制血管生成等作用.近年来有研究表明,PEDF的减少与糖尿病肾病(DN)有密切关系,PEDF可抑制转化生长因子-β1(TGF-β1)和结缔组织生长因子(CTGF)的表达,抑制细胞外基质(ECM)的聚积,提示其具有抗纤维化活性,同时可通过调节肾脏脉管系统发展和维持肾自身稳态来发挥对DN的保护作用.PEDF可抑制DN的发生、发展,可能成为DN治疗的一种新方向.     

色素上皮衍生因子与糖尿病肾病

色素上皮衍生因子(PEDF)是丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂超家族成员之一,其主要生物学作用是营养神经、神经元保护、抗氧化应激、抗炎性反应、抑制新生血管形成等.越来越多的研究显示,PEDF在糖尿病肾病中可发挥独特的保护作用,如减少肾小球细胞外基质生成、预防肾脏纤维化,并通过抑制肾脏炎性反应和氧化应激反应而抑制肾小球毛细血管内皮细胞增生、调节血管的渗透性,从而减少尿蛋白的生成.因此,PEDF有望成为糖尿病肾病的一个治疗靶点.     

色素上皮细胞衍生因子与糖尿病微血管病变

色素上皮细胞衍生因子（PEDF）是一种多功能糖蛋白,在人体中广泛存在,具有抑制新生血管、营养神经及抗肿瘤等多种功能,并能够同多种细胞因子发生相互作用。近年来研究表明,PEDF与糖尿病微血管病变关系密切。     

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) promotes growth of pericytes through autocrine production of platelet-derived growth factor-B

Microvessels are composed of two types of cells, endothelial cells and pericytes. Pericyte loss or dysfunction participates in various types of disorders, including diabetic retinopathy. Recently, decreased levels of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) in the eye have been found to predict progression of diabetic retinopathy. However, the effect of PEDF on pericyte growth remains to be unknown. In this study, we investigated whether or how PEDF could stimulate proliferation of cultured retinal pericytes. PEDF stimulated DNA synthesis in pericytes in a dose-dependent manner. PEDF up-regulated pericyte mRNA levels of platelet-derived growth factor-B (PDGF-B). Down-regulation of PDGF-B gene expression by small interfering RNAs completely inhibited the PEDF-induced DNA synthesis in pericytes. Furthermore, PEDF increased protein kinase C (PKC) activity in pericytes and staurosporine, a potent cell-permeable inhibitor of PKC, completely blocked the PDGF-B gene induction and subsequent increase in DNA synthesis in PEDF-exposed pericytes. These results demonstrate that PEDF promotes the growth of cultured pericytes possibly through autocrine production of PDGF-B via PKC activation. Our present study suggests that PEDF could act as a mitogen or survival factor for pericytes, thereby being involved in the maintenance of retinal microvascular homeostasis.     

Pigment epithelium-derived factor is involved in the vascular endothelial cells dysfunction induced by arsenic

<正>Objective To explore the role of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) in vascular endothelial cells dysfunction induced by sodium arsenite (Na As O2).Methods Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (EA.Hy926 cells) were treated with different levels of     

Pigment epithelium-derived factor inhibits leptin-induced angiogenesis by suppressing vascular endothelial growth factor gene expression through anti-oxidative properties

Leptin, a circulating hormone secreted mainly from adipose tissues, is involved in the control of body weight. Recently, leptin was found to be an angiogenic factor, and its vitreous levels are associated with angiogenic eye diseases such as proliferative diabetic retinopathy. However, the molecular mechanism for leptin-elicited angiogenesis remains to be elucidated. Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) has been shown to be the most potent natural inhibitor of angiogenesis in the mammalian eye, and its levels in the vitreous were decreased in angiogenic eye diseases. In this study, we investigated whether and how PEDF could inhibit the leptin-induced DNA synthesis in microvascular endothelial cells (EC), a key step of angiogenesis. Leptin significantly increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in microvascular EC. PEDF was found to inhibit the leptin-induced ROS generation in EC. An anti-oxidant, N-acetylcysteine, or PEDF completely prevented the leptin-induced upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA levels as well as any increase in DNA synthesis in microvascular EC. Polyclonal antibodies against human VEGF were also found to completely inhibit DNA synthesis in leptin-exposed EC. The present study suggests that leptin could elicit angiogenesis through autocrine VEGF production via intracellular ROS generation. PEDF may block the angiogenic effects of leptin through its anti-oxidative properties.     

色素上皮衍生因子抑制糖基化终产物介导人肾小球系膜细胞糖基化终产物受体表达的研究

目的 观察色素上皮衍生因子（PEDF）、晚期糖基化终产物受体（RAGE）的表达及重组PEDF对RAGE表达的抑制作用,探讨PEDF与DN的关系及对DN的保护作用. 方法 采用糖化小牛血清白蛋白（AGE-BSA）体外诱导人肾小球系膜细胞（HRMCs）,Western blot及RT-PCR法分别检测RAGE、PEDF蛋白和mRNA表达. 结果 （1） AGE-BSA（100～400 mg/L）呈浓度梯度减少HRMCsPEDF表达（P＜0.01）,升高RAGE表达（P＜0.01）;（2）重组PEDF蛋白（5～40 nmol/L）呈浓度依赖性抑制AGE-BSA介导RAGE蛋白在HRMCs的表达（P＜0.05）. 结论 AGEs通过降低PEDF表达,增加RAGE表达参与DN的发生,PEDF可能通过抑制AGE-RAGE轴对DN发挥保护作用.     

色素上皮衍生因子抑制人肝癌裸鼠移植瘤生长

目的 观察人色素上皮衍生因子(PEDF)对血管生成的抑制作用,探讨PEDF在肝癌基因治疗中的应用前景. 方法构建色素上皮衍生因子慢病毒表达质粒pLenti-PEDF,经293T细胞包装,收集病毒上清液,感染肝癌细胞株HepG2.收集各组细胞的条件培养基,通过Westernblot分析各组细胞PEDF的表达情况,并通过人脐静脉血管内皮细胞增殖及迁移试验研究其体外生物学活性.人肝癌细胞HepG2移植到裸鼠皮下,研究Lenti-PEDF病毒对肝癌移植瘤生长的抑制作用,逆转录聚合酶链反应检测肿瘤组织中PEDF mRNA表达.多组间均数比较采用单因素方差分析,组间两两比较采用LSD法.结果 限制性内切酶酶切分析和测序结果均表明成功构建了PEDF慢病毒表达载体,以293T细胞包装的重组慢病毒能够高效感染肝癌细胞,肝痛细胞感染重组慢病毒后可高效表达PEDF并分泌到培养上清液中.体外研究结果表明,重组PEDF可明显抑制人脐静脉血管内皮细胞的增殖及迁移,抑制率分别达29%和48%,与空白对照组相比,差异有统计学意义(P值均<0.01).Lenti-PEDF病毒能明显抑制人肝癌裸鼠皮下移植瘤的生长(P<0.01).瘤内注射Lenti-PEDF病毒21 d后,逆转录聚合酶链反应在肿瘤组织检测到PEDF mRNA的过表达.结论 本研究初步提示PEDF能有效遏制肿瘤的血管生成和肿瘤生长,为肝癌的基因治疗提供了一条新的思路.     

色素上皮衍生因子抑制高糖诱导的人肾小球系膜细胞转化生长因子β1、纤连蛋白和Ⅳ型胶原的表达

随着葡萄糖浓度的增加,人肾小球系膜细胞转化生长因子β1(TGF-β1)、纤连蛋白(FN)和Ⅳ型胶原(ColⅣ)的表达显著增加(P＜0.01).在30 mmol/L的高糖条件下,40～160 nmol/L的色素上皮衍生因子(PEDF)显著抑制TGF-β1表达,呈剂量依赖性(P＜0.01);5～40 nmol/L的PEDF也剂量依赖性地抑制FN和ColⅣ的表达(P＜0.01),提示PEDF可能通过其抗纤维化的作用延缓糖尿病肾病的进程.

Abstract：

The expressions of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), fibronectin (FN), and collagen Ⅳ in human mesangial cells were augmented with increased concentrations of glucose.Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) at concentrations of 40-160 nmol/L significantly inhibited TGF-β1 expression in a dose-dependent manner(P＜0.01).PEDF at concentrations of 5-40 nmol/L significantly decreased FN and collagen Ⅳ expressions in a dose-dependent manner(P＜0.01) ,suggesting that PEDF may play a salutary role in diabetic nephropathy by its antifibrogenic activity.     

持续及间断高糖培养对牛视网膜血管周细胞凋亡的影响

目的探讨不同浓度的持续高糖和间断高糖对牛视网膜血管周细胞（BRPs）增殖、凋亡及细胞周期的影响。方法分别在低糖、持续及间断高糖下培养BRPs7天;应用MTT比色法观察各组BRPs增殖情况;应用TUNEL法检测BRPs凋亡率;应用流式细胞术观察BRPs细胞周期的情况。结果（1）持续及间断高糖均可抑制BRPs增殖,诱导其凋亡,与对照组比较,P〈0.01,其中35mmol/L持续高糖组的吸光度为0.274,凋亡率为48.73%;（2）持续及间断高糖可使BRPsG0/G1期细胞比例增加,S期细胞比例减少,G2/M细胞比例无明显改变;（3）间断高糖组中波动幅度及频度大者对BRPs的作用更明显。结论高糖毒性和高糖波动性共同参与视网膜病变的发生,且高糖绝对水平的作用超过高糖的不稳定性作用。     

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) prevents diabetes- or advanced glycation end products (AGE)-elicited retinal leukostasis

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is the most potent inhibitor of angiogenesis in the mammalian eye, suggesting that PEDF may protect against proliferative diabetic retinopathy. However, a role for PEDF in early diabetic retinopathy remains to be elucidated. Leukocyte adhesion to retinal capillary endothelium (leukostasis) is a critical event in early diabetic retinopathy, whose process is mainly mediated by intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). We investigated here whether PEDF could prevent diabetes- or advanced glycation end products (AGE)-elicited retinal leukostasis by suppressing ICAM-1 expression. Immunohistochemistry of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), an oxidative stress marker, showed intense staining in the nuclei of cells in the inner and outer plexiform layers of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat retinas. Administration of PEDF or pyridoxal phosphate, an AGE inhibitor, decreased retinal levels of 8-OHdG and subsequently suppressed ICAM-1 gene expression and retinal leukostasis in diabetic rats. Further, intravenous administration of AGE to normal rats increased ICAM-1 gene expression and retinal leukostasis, which were blocked by PEDF. PEDF also inhibited the AGE-induced T cell adhesion to microvascular endothelial cells by suppressing ICAM-1 expression. These results demonstrated that PEDF inhibited diabetes- or AGE-elicited retinal leukostasis by suppressing ICAM-1. Our present study suggests that PEDF may play a protective role against early diabetic retinopathy by attenuating the deleterious effect of AGE.     

Pigment epithelium-derived factor inhibits TNF-alpha-induced interleukin-6 expression in endothelial cells by suppressing NADPH oxidase-mediated reactive oxygen species generation

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) has recently been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory-fibroproliferative disease as well. Oxidative stress plays a major role in retinopathy and atherosclerosis. Accordingly, we investigated effects of PEDF on reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, NF-kappaB activation and interleukin (IL)-6 expression in TNF-alpha-exposed HUVEC. TNF-alpha significantly increased intracellular ROS generation, which was completely blocked by PEDF or diphenylene iodonium, an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase. Further, PEDF completely prevented the TNF-alpha-induced increase in NADPH oxidase activity. PEDF or an antioxidant, N-acetylcysteine, significantly inhibited the TNF-alpha-induced NF-kappaB activation. PEDF inhibited TNF-alpha-induced expression of IL-6 at both mRNA and protein levels. Moreover, TNF-alpha downregulated PEDF mRNA levels. Ligand blot analysis revealed that HUVEC possessed a membrane protein with binding affinity for PEDF. The results demonstrated that PEDF inhibited TNF-alpha-induced NF-kappaB activation and subsequent IL-6 overexpression in HUVEC by suppressing NADPH oxidase-mediated ROS generation. Our present study suggests that PEDF may play an important role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis.     

Metallothionein alleviates oxidative stress-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and myocardial dysfunction

Oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress have been implicated in cardiovascular diseases although the interplay between the two is not clear. This study was designed to examine the influence of oxidative stress through glutathione depletion on myocardial ER stress and contractile function in the absence or presence of the heavy metal scavenger antioxidant metallothionein (MT). FVB and MT overexpression transgenic mice received the GSH synthase inhibitor buthionine sulfoximine (BSO, 30 mM) in drinking water for 2 weeks. Oxidative stress, ER stress, apoptosis, cardiac function and ultrastructure were assessed using GSH/GSSG assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS), immunoblotting, caspase-3 activity, Langendorff perfused heart function (LVDP and ± dP/dt), and transmission electron microscopy. BSO led to a robust decrease in the GSH/GSSG ratio and increased ROS production, consolidating oxidative stress. Cardiac function and ultrastructure were compromised following BSO treatment, the effect of which was obliterated by MT. BSO promoted overt ER stress as evidenced by upregulated BiP, calregulin, phospho-IRE1α and phospho-eIF2α without affecting total IRE1α and eIF2α. BSO treatment led to apoptosis manifested as elevated expression of CHOP/GADD153, caspase-12 and Bax as well as caspase-3 activity, reduced Bcl-2 expression and JNK phosphorylation, all of which was ablated by MT. Moreover, both antioxidant N-acetylcysteine and the ER stress inhibitor tauroursodeoxycholic acid reversed the oxidative stress inducer menadione-elicited depression in cardiomyocyte contractile function. Taken together, these data suggested that ER stress occurs likely downstream of oxidative stress en route to cardiac dysfunction.     

高浓度葡萄糖对牛视网膜血管周细胞凋亡及凋亡调节基因表达的影响

目的 研究不同浓度葡萄糖培养条件对牛视网膜血管周细胞凋亡及凋亡调节基因Bel-2、Bax表达的影响,探讨Bcl-2、Bax对周细胞凋亡的调控.方法 在体外培养第3代近融合的视网膜血管周细胞中加入不同浓度的葡萄糖(5.5 mmol/L、15.0 mmol/L、25.0 mmol/L和35.0mmol/L)孵育6 d后,应用MTT方法检测高糖下牛视网膜周细胞增殖情况,TUNEL法特异性标记凋亡细胞,免疫组化染色法和RT-PCR测定Bcl-2、Bax基因的表达. 结果 周细胞在高浓度葡萄糖培养下,细胞增殖受抑制,呈现出典型的细胞凋亡特征,凋亡率分别为(28.4±0.8)%、(40.4±0.9)%与(50.2±0.6)%.高浓度葡萄糖培养呈剂量依赖性促周细胞凋亡(r=0.959,P＜0.01)和凋亡调节基因Bax的表达(蛋白水平r=0.966,P＜0.01;mNRA水平r=0.874,P＜0.01)及抑制凋亡调节基因Bcl-2的表达(蛋白水平r=-0.964,P＜0.01;mNRA水平r=-0.912,P＜0.01);周细胞的凋亡率与Bax/Bcl-2比率呈正相关(r=0.810,P＜0.01).结论 高浓度葡萄糖培养以剂量依赖的方式促进周细胞凋亡,Bcl-2、Bax基因表达的改变参与了细胞凋亡的调控.