AIM:To evaluate the protective mechanisms of piperine in the retina of mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.METHODS:In experiments in vitro,stimulation by chemical hypoxia was established in ARPE-19 cells.Then,the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α),vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGFA),and pigment epithelium-derived factor(PEDF)was assessed at the m RNA and protein levels.In experiments in vivo,diabetes mellitus was established by intraperitoneally injecting 150 mg/kg streptozotocin once.After 3 wk of the onset of diabetes,15 mg/kg piperine was intraperitoneally injected once daily for 1 or 3 wk.Then,the retinal morphology and m RNA and protein expression were assessed.RESULTS:In hypoxia,1-100μmol/L piperine significantly decreased the expression of VEGFA m RNA and increased the expression of PEDF m RNA without affecting HIF-1αm RNA.Meanwhile,100μmol/L piperine substantially decreased the protein level of VEGFA and increased the protein level of PEDF.The HIF-1αprotein level was also hampered by piperine.In the diabetic retina of mice,the morphological damage was alleviated by piperine.Likewise,the retinal vascular leakage was substantially decreased by piperine.Further,the protein levels of HIF-1αand VEGFA were significantly reduced by piperine.Moreover,the level of the antiangiogenic factor of PEDF dramatically increased by piperine.CONCLUSION:Piperine may exert protective effects on the retina of mice with diabetes via regulating the pro-antiangiogenic homeostasis composed of HIF-1/VEGFA and PEDF.
AIM： To analyze the relationship between clinical features and epithelial mesenchymal transition （EMT） in retinoblastoma （RB）, further to investigate whether miR-200c regulates the EMT and migration of RB cells. METHODS： Expression of EMT-related markers and tumor- related factors were detected by immuno-histochemistry analysis in RB tissue from 29 cases. Correlations between their expression and clinical characteristics were analyzed. The regulation effects of miR-200c on EMT-related markers, tumor-related factors were observed in mRNA level and protein level by real-time polymerase chain reaction （PCR） and Western blot, respectively, in Y79 and Weri-rbl cells. Its effects on migration force of these RB cell lines were also detected with Transwell test. RESULTS： Lower expression of E-cadherin was present in the cases with malignant prognosis. MiR-200c promoted the expression of E-cadherin and decreased the expression of Vimentin and N-cadherin in Y79 and Weri-rbl cells. Migration force of RB cells could be inhibited by miR-200c. CONCLUSION： EMT might be associated with bad prognosis in RB. MiR-200c suppresses the migration of retinoblastomatous cells by reverse EMT.
