Statins decrease vascular epithelial growth factor expression via down-regulation of receptor for advanced glycation end-products. Issue 9 (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tsujinaka, Hiroki; Itaya-Hironaka, Asako; Yamauchi, Akiyo; Sakuramoto-Tsuchida, Sumiyo; Shobatake, Ryogo; Makino, Mai; Masuda, Naonori; Hirai, Hiromasa; Takasawa, Shin; Ogata, Nahoko
• Is Part Of: Heliyon. Volume 3:Issue 9(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: Biological sciences -- Ophthalmology -- Biochemistry -- Cell biology; Research -- Periodicals; Medical sciences -- Periodicals; Natural history -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Earth sciences -- Periodicals; Physical sciences -- Periodicals; 507.2
• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2017.e00401
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2405-8440

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Aims: Statins, inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, possess pleiotropic effects that have been extended to modulation of various cellular behaviors. This study aimed to examine whether statins modulate vascular endothelial growth factor A ( VEGF-A ) expression in human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. Main methods: Human RPE cells (h1RPE7), damaged by hydroquinone (HQ) + advanced glycation endproducts (AGE) in an in vitro AMD model, were treated with atorvastatin or lovastatin for 24 h. The expression of VEGF-A and receptor for AGE ( RAGE ) was evaluated by real-time RT-PCR. VEGF-A secretion was measured by ELISA. To investigate the impact of RAGE on VEGF-A expression, small interfering RNA (siRNA) for RAGE ( siRAGE ) was introduced into h1RPE7 cells and VEGF-A expression was measured by real-time RT-PCR. Deletions of VEGF-A and RAGE promoters were performed and transcriptional activities were measured after the addition of statins to HQ + AGE-damaged RPE cells. Key findings: The mRNA levels of VEGF-A and RAGE and the levels of VEGF-A in the culture medium were increased by HQ + AGE. Both atorvastatin and lovastatin attenuated HQ + AGE-induced VEGF-A and RAGE expression. These statins also decreased VEGF-A levels in the culture medium. RNA interference of RAGE attenuated the up-regulation of VEGF-A in the HQ + AGE treated cells. The deletion analysis demonstrated that these statins attenuated RAGE promoter activation in HQ + AGE-damaged RPE cells. Significance: Statins attenuated HQ + AGE-induced VEGF expression by decreasing RAGE expression. As VEGF is an important factor in developing wet AMD, statins could decrease the risk of wet-type AMD and be used as preventive medicines.