Objective To detect the effects of cytokines on the expression of early growth response gene-1 (Egr-1) in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Methods Immunofluorescence staining, Western blotting and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to detect and quantitatively analyze the expression of Egr-1 protein and mRNA in cultured human RPE cells which were exposed to stimulants, including 20 mu;g/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS), 40 ng/ml tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha;, 10 U/ml interferon (IFN)gamma;, 30% supernatant of monocyte/macrophage strain (THP1 cells) and the vitreous humor from healthy human eyeballs, for 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 60 minutes, respectively. Results The RPE cells stimulated for 0 minute revealed faint green fluorescence of Egr-1 in the cytoplasm. With exposure to the stimulants, the expressionof Egr-1 increased obviously and b green fluorescence was found in cytoplasm in some nuclei of RPE cells. Compared with the untreated RPE cells, after stimulated by 20 mu;g/ml LPS, 40 ng/ml TNFalpha;, 10 U/ml IFNgamma;, 30% supernatant of THP-1 cells and the vitreous humor, the approximate ultimate amplitudes of Egr-1 mRNA enhanced 1.9, 1.3, 14, 1.2, and 1.4 times, respectively; the greatest amplitudes of Egr-1 protein increased 3.4, 1.2, 1.7, 32, and 1.3 times, respectively. Conclusion LPS, TNF-alpha;, IFN-gamma;, supernatant of THP-1 cells and the vitreous humor can upregulate the expression of Egr-1 mRNA and protein in cultured human RPE cells, and induce its nuclear transposition, which suggests the activation of Egr-1.
Objective To investigate the effects of cytokines on the expression of syndecan-1 in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and the signal transduction pathway. Methods Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence staining were used to detect the expression of syndecan-1 mRNA and protein in normal RPE cells. The expression of syndecan-1 in RPE cells stimulated by different cytokines was detected and quantitatively analyzed by image process of immunofluorescence. The stimulation included 7 and 35 ng/ml tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha; for 24 hours, 1 and 6 mu;g/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 11 hours, 7 ng/ml TNF-alpha; for 0 to 24 hours (once per 2 hours, and 13 times in total), and 30% supernatant of monocyte/macrophage strain (THP-1 cells) for 3, 14 and 43 hours. The effect of 30% supernatant of THP-1 cells was assayed after pretreated by PD098059［the specific inhibitor of extracellular signal regulated kinase(ERK) 1/2］for 2 hours. After exposed to 30% supernatant of THP-1 cells for 3 hours and treated by 0.25% trypsin for 5 minutes, RPE cells attaching was evaluated by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay. Results In normal human RPE cells, expressions of syndecan-1 mRNA and protein were detected, and b syndecan-1 positive yellowish green fluorescence was found in the cell membrane and cytoplasm while light green fluorescence was in the nucleus. As the concentration and stimulated time of TNF-alpha; or LPS increased, the fluorescence intensity decreased（Plt;0.01）, and after exposed to 30% supernatant of THP-1 cells, weaker fluorescence intensity was detected (Plt;0.001). Pretreatment with 50 mu;mol/L PD098059 for 2 hours partly inhibited the effect of THP-1 cells supernatant. After exposed to 30% supernatant of THP-1 cells for 3 hours, the number of attached cells decreased compared with the controls（Plt;0.05）. Conclusions TNF-alpha; and LPS down-regulate the expression of syndecan-1 in cultured human RPE cells. The supernatant of THP-1 cells down-regulates the expression of syndecan-1 and lessens the cells attaching, which is at least mediated by ERK 1/2 pathway. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2006, 22: 113-116)