ObjectiveTo investigate the role of sonic hedgehog (Shh) signal transduction pathway in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) under hypoxia in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (hRPE) cells. MethodsARPE-19 were cultured and divided into normal ARPE-19 (Cont) and hypoxia group (100 μmol/L CoCl2 Cobalt Chloride +ARPE-19); hypoxia group was further divided into CoCl2 group, cyclopamine group (CYA) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group. 20μmol/L cyclopamine was added to the CYA group 1 hour before hypoxia, 1‰DMSO was added into DMSO group at the same time. The hRPE cells were cultured under hypoxia for 4, 8, 12, 24 hours. The expression of Shh and VEGF were determined by Real-time fluorescent quantitate PCR (RT-PCR). The amount of VEGF in the hRPE-conditioned supernatant was measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at 4, 8, 12, 24 hours, respectively. ResultsRT-PCR tests showed that the level of Shh and VEGF of hRPE was time dependently increased (Shh: F=45.260, P=0.001; VEGF: F=264.938, P=0.001). The level of Shh and VEGF of hRPE in the group treated with cyclopamine was decreased (P < 0.01). ELISA tests showed that the amount of VEGF in hRPE supernatant was significantly increased in time-dependent manner (F=3 156.676, P=0.001), and it was down-regulated by cyclopamine under hypoxia (P < 0.01). ConclusionShh signal transduction pathway could play a role in the VEGF expression induced by hypoxia in hRPE cells.