Oxidative stress affects retinal pigment epithelial cell survival through epidermal growth factor receptor/AKT signaling pathway

International Journal of Ophthalmology
Xiao-Dong ChenWen-Sheng Li

Abstract

To investigate the cross-talk between oxidative stress and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/AKT signaling pathway in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Human RPE cell lines (ARPE-19 cell) were treated with different doses of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Cell viability was determined by a methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay. Cell proliferation was examined by a bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assay. EGFR/AKT signaling was detected by Western blot. EGFR localization was also detected by immunofluorescence. In addition, EGFR/AKT signaling was intervened upon by EGFR inhibitor (erlotinib), PI3K inhibitor (A66) and AKT inhibitor (MK-2206), respectively. H2O2-induced oxidative stress was blocked by antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC). EGF treatment increased ARPE-19 cell viability and proliferation through inducing phosphorylation of EGFR and AKT. H2O2 inhibited ARPE-19 cell viability and proliferation and also suppressed EGF-stimulated increase of RPE cell viability and proliferation by affecting the EGFR/AKT signaling pathway. EGFR inhibitor erlotinib blocked EGF-induced phosphorylation of EGFR and AKT, while A66 and MK-2206 only blocked EGF-induced phosphorylation of AKT. EGF-ind...Continue Reading

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