| Purpose: To investigate whether triamcinolone acetonide (TA) affects the expression of VEGF and PEDF in cultured human retinal pigment epithelium (ARPE19) and human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVE) cells. Methods: ARPE19 and HUVE cells were treated with TA (0.1 mg/ml,1mg/ml).The mRNA expression of VEGF and PEDF was determined from 10 minutes to 3 days using real time RT-PCR. Concurrently the protein levels of VEGF and PEDF in ARPE cells were detected with ELISA. Results: Real-time RT-PCR measurements indicated a differential influence of TA on VEGF165 and PEDF in ARPE19 cells: a 0.5 fold decrease was seen in the level of VEGF165 and 2.5 fold increases in the level of PEDF with both TA concentrations. The effect was maintained at 12 h after 0.1 mg/ml TA stimulation and 24 h after 1 mg/ml TA stimulation.Similar changes were present in the respective protein concentrations. The effects of TA in HUVE cells were similar to those in ARPE19 cells. Conclusion: TA reduces the expression of VEGF, but increases the expression of PEDF in ARPE19 and HUVE cells. These may suggest TA influences the inhibition of neovascularization and macular edema through differential VEGF and PEDF expressions. |
