Inhibition of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 by salidroside in an in vitro model of choroidal neovascularization

Abstract

Purpose

As a characteristic of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), choroidal neovascularization (CNV) causes severe vision loss. The current treatment has limited efficacy. This study was to investigate effects of Salidroside against CNV and explore its underlying mechanisms.

Methods

RF/6A cells were treated with 200 mM cobalt chloride (CoCl₂) for 6 hr to mimic hypoxic condition. Cells were then treated with Salidroside at 10, 30, and 100 µM for 24 hr. Cells treated with DMSO were used as negative control. The cell proliferation was assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium-bromid assay. The tube formation was investigated on Matrigel. The cell migration was measured by a Transwell assay. RT-qPCR was used to detect the gene expression. Immuohistochemistry and western blot were used to detect the expression of proteins.

Results

Salidroside significantly inhibited the cell migration and tube formation activity of RF/6A cells under hypoxia. Moreover, Salidroside reduced the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) in RF/6A cells.

Conclusions

Our data suggested that Salidroside could be a potential novel therapeutic agent against CNV.

Keywords:

• Salidroside
• choroidal neovascularization
• RF/6A cells
• tube formation
• hypoxia-inducible factor-1

Author contributions

Study concepts and design: Haitao Yang, Linfei Zheng

Experimental studies: Haitao Yang, Qingwu Yang

Data analysis: Haitao Yang, Qingwu Yang

Manuscript preparation: Haitao Yang, Linfei Zheng

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by Key Clinical Specialty Discipline Construction Program of Fuzhou [No. 201912006].