TY - JOUR AB - A number of studies have reported that diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the major cause of blindness. Berberine (BBR) is a bioactive constituent that displays effects on blood glucose; however, the mechanism underlying the role of BBR during the development of DR is not completely understood. In the present study, a rat model of DR was successfully established. The eye tissues were removed and subsequently assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining and the TUNEL assay. The catalase, malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species, glutathione and superoxide dismutase contents of the eye tissues were measured. Müller cells were chosen for further in vitro experiments. Cell apoptosis was examined by Annexin V‑FITC apoptosis detection and Hoechst staining, and the mitochondrial membrane potential was assessed by JC‑1 mitochondrial membrane potential detection. BBR decreased ganglion cell layer, cell apoptosis, reduced diabetic‑induced oxidative stress and deactivated the NF‑κB signaling pathway in the rat model of DR. High glucose enhanced oxidative stress and induced mitochondria‑dependent cell apoptosis in Müller cells by activating the NF‑κB signaling pathway. BBR reversed the high glucose‑induced effects by decreasing the phosphorylation of IκB, inhibiting NF‑κB nuclear translocation and deactivating the NF‑κB signaling pathway. The results suggested that BBR protected against DR by inhibiting oxidative stress and cell apoptosis via deactivation of the NF‑κB signaling pathway; therefore, suggesting that BBR may serve as a promising therapeutic agent for DR. AD - Department of Endocrinology, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, P.R. China Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Queen Mary, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, P.R. China Department of Neurology, Xi'an Electric Power Central Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, P.R. China Department of Geratology, Xi'an Ninth Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710054, P.R. China Department of Endocrinology, Xi'an Ninth Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710054, P.R. China Department of Internal Medicine, 522nd Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Luoyang, Henan 471003, P.R. China AU - Zhai,Jiajia AU - Li,Zeping AU - Zhang,Huifeng AU - Ma,Louyan AU - Ma,Zhengquan AU - Zhang,Yi AU - Zou,Jian AU - Li,Mo AU - Ma,Li AU - Wang,Xin AU - Li,Xiaomiao DA - 2020/11/01 DO - 10.3892/mmr.2020.11505 EP - 4235 IS - 5 JO - Mol Med Rep KW - berberine oxidative stress cell apoptosis NF‑κB diabetic retinopathy PY - 2020 SN - 1791-2997 1791-3004 SP - 4227 ST - Berberine protects against diabetic retinopathy by inhibiting cell apoptosis via deactivation of the NF‑κB signaling pathway T2 - Molecular Medicine Reports TI - Berberine protects against diabetic retinopathy by inhibiting cell apoptosis via deactivation of the NF‑κB signaling pathway UR - https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2020.11505 VL - 22 ER -