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Effect of diabetes blood-stasis syndrome and Xuefu Zhuyu decoction on ROS-ERK1/2 signaling pathway in rat retina Müller cells

Cytotechnology volume 72, pages 303–314 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

This research aimed to investigate whether diabetic blood-stasis syndrome had a relationship with ROS-ERK1/2 signaling pathway in rat retina Müller cells and explore the effects of traditional Chinese drugs designed for promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis on diabetic retinopathy (DR) treatment. Immunofluorescence was applied to determine purity of Müller cells. The diabetes was induced in rats by streptozotocin (STZ). Müller cells were stimulated by blood serum obtained from rats with blood-stasis syndrome and then treated by Xuefu Zhuyu decoction. Kits for reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) were used for corresponding detection. Western blot analysis was used to determine the phosphorylation of ERK1/2. The results indicated that stimulation of Müller cells by blood serum of rats with diabetic blood-stasis syndrome increased the expression of ROS, inhibited SOD and GSH, and activated ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Treatment of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction could weaken this phenomenon. What’s more, similar effects of ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126 with Xuefu Zhuyu decoction proved the involvement of ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Therefore, our results suggested that traditional Chinese drugs for promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis would be an effective therapy to treat DR.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Number 81403245) and Bethune·Lumitin Research Funding for the young and middle-aged Ophthalmologists (Grant Number BJ-LM2017007J).

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Affiliations

  1. Eye Institute, EENT Hospital, Fudan University, No. 83 Fenyang Road, Shanghai, 200031, China

    Xiaofeng Ye, Hui Ren, Tingting Jiang, Ting Zhang & Gang Li

  2. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China

    Xiaofeng Ye, Hui Ren, Tingting Jiang, Ting Zhang & Gang Li

  3. NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China

    Xiaofeng Ye, Hui Ren, Tingting Jiang, Ting Zhang & Gang Li

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  1. Xiaofeng Ye
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  2. Hui Ren
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  5. Gang Li
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Correspondence to Xiaofeng Ye.

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Ye, X., Ren, H., Jiang, T. et al. Effect of diabetes blood-stasis syndrome and Xuefu Zhuyu decoction on ROS-ERK1/2 signaling pathway in rat retina Müller cells. Cytotechnology 72, 303–314 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10616-020-00379-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10616-020-00379-7

Keywords

  • Diabetic retinopathy
  • Blood-stasis syndrome
  • Reactive oxygen species
  • ERK1/2 signaling pathway
  • Müller cells