Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2006;47(4):629-636.
Published online April 30, 2006.
Expression of Angiogeneis-related Factors in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells under Hypoxia.
Young Duk Kim, Young Chul Park, Gwang Ju Choi
1Lee Yeon Eye Clinic, Gwangju, Korea.
2Department of Ophthalmology, The Chosun University Medical College, Gwangju, Korea. gjchoi@chosun.ac.kr
저산소에 노출된 망막색소상피세포에서 혈관신생인자의 발현 변화
김영덕1,박영철2,최광주2
Lee Yeon Eye Clinic1, Gwangju, Korea Department of Ophthalmology, The Chosun University Medical College2, Gwangju, Korea
Correspondence:  Young Duk Kim, M.D.1
Abstract
PURPOSE
To elucidate the mechanism of neoangiogenesis of human retinal pigment epithelium (HRPE) under hypoxia. METHODS: HRPE cells were cultured for 2 and 24 hours in a hypoxic chamber. Expression and production of the angiogenic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the anti-angiogenic factor, pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) were analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. Neoangiogenesis was induced by adding culture supernatant harvested from cells exposed to hypoxic conditions. Neoangeogenesis was measured with a tube formation assay that uses ECV 304 cells and with a migration assay that uses human dermal microvascular endothelial cells. RESULTS: Competitive RT-PCR showed that the expression of the PEDF gene in HRPE cells under hypoxic state decreased compared to normoxic state (p<0.01) but the expression of the VEGF gene increased (p<0.01) when exposed to hypoxic conditions. These results corresponded to those of the Western blot analysis which revealed a significant increase of VEGF production (p<0.01) and a decrease of PEDF production (p<0.01). Moreover, the tube formation and migration assays demonstrated that angiogenesis was increased by exposure to hypoxic stress. Taken together, HRPE cells under hypoxic stress produce more VEGF and less PEDF, which lead to neoangiogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the subretinal neovascularization that occurs under hypoxic stress might be caused by an imbalance of angiogenesis-related factors in HRPE cells.
Key Words: Angiogenesis;Hypoxia;PEDF;Retinal pigment epithelium;VEGF


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