Synergistic protective effects of escin and low‑dose glucocorticoids against vascular endothelial growth factor‑induced blood‑retinal barrier breakdown in retinal pigment epithelial and umbilical vein endothelial cells

  • Authors:
    • Fenglan Zhang
    • Xuejing Man
    • Huajun Yu
    • Limei Liu
    • Yuanbin Li
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: October 31, 2014     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2014.2833
  • Pages: 1372-1377
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Abstract

Previous studies have shown that escin possesses glucocorticoid (GC)‑like anti‑edematous and anti‑inflammatory effects. The present study was designed to investigate whether escin exhibits synergistic protective effects against blood‑retinal barrier (BRB) breakdown when combined with GC in an in vitro monolayer BRB model, based on retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The results showed that low concentrations of escin and triamcinolone acetonide (TA) administered separately did not affect BRB trans‑endothelial (epithelium) resistance (TEER). However, when administered together, escin and TA significantly inhibited reduced BRB TEER following treatment with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Furthermore, low‑concentrations of escin and TA administered together significantly increased the expression levels of occludin and ZO‑1. This demonstrates that escin and GC have synergistic protective effects against BRB breakdown, and the molecular mechanisms may be related to the upregulation of occludin and ZO‑1 expression. The combination of escin with GC indicates a potential beneficial strategy for the treatment of breakdown of the BRB.
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February-2015
Volume 11 Issue 2

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Spandidos Publications style
Zhang F, Man X, Yu H, Liu L and Li Y: Synergistic protective effects of escin and low‑dose glucocorticoids against vascular endothelial growth factor‑induced blood‑retinal barrier breakdown in retinal pigment epithelial and umbilical vein endothelial cells. Mol Med Rep 11: 1372-1377, 2015
APA
Zhang, F., Man, X., Yu, H., Liu, L., & Li, Y. (2015). Synergistic protective effects of escin and low‑dose glucocorticoids against vascular endothelial growth factor‑induced blood‑retinal barrier breakdown in retinal pigment epithelial and umbilical vein endothelial cells. Molecular Medicine Reports, 11, 1372-1377. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2014.2833
MLA
Zhang, F., Man, X., Yu, H., Liu, L., Li, Y."Synergistic protective effects of escin and low‑dose glucocorticoids against vascular endothelial growth factor‑induced blood‑retinal barrier breakdown in retinal pigment epithelial and umbilical vein endothelial cells". Molecular Medicine Reports 11.2 (2015): 1372-1377.
Chicago
Zhang, F., Man, X., Yu, H., Liu, L., Li, Y."Synergistic protective effects of escin and low‑dose glucocorticoids against vascular endothelial growth factor‑induced blood‑retinal barrier breakdown in retinal pigment epithelial and umbilical vein endothelial cells". Molecular Medicine Reports 11, no. 2 (2015): 1372-1377. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2014.2833