Decursin inhibits VEGF-mediated inner blood-retinal barrier breakdown by suppression of VEGFR-2 activation

J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2009 Sep;29(9):1559-67. doi: 10.1038/jcbfm.2009.78. Epub 2009 Jun 17.

Abstract

The blood-retinal barrier (BRB) is essential for the normal structural and functional integrity of the retina, whose breakdown could cause the serious vision loss. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), as a permeable factor, induces alteration of tight junction proteins to result in BRB breakdown. Herein, we demonstrated that decursin inhibits VEGF-mediated inner BRB breakdown through suppression of VEGFR-2 signaling pathway. In retinal endothelial cells, decursin inhibited VEGF-mediated hyperpermeability. Decursin prevented VEGF-mediated loss of tight junction proteins including zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), ZO-2, and occludin in retinal endothelial cells, which was also supported by restoration of tight junction proteins in intercellular junction. In addition, decursin significantly inhibited VEGF-mediated vascular leakage from retinal vessels, which was accompanied by prevention of loss of tight junction proteins in retinal vessels. Decursin significantly suppressed VEGF-induced VEGFR-2 phosphrylation that consequently led to inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 activation. Moreover, decursin induced no cytotoxicity to retinal endothelial cells and no retinal toxicity under therapeutic concentrations. Therefore, our results suggest that decursin prevents VEGF-mediated BRB breakdown through blocking of loss of tight junction proteins, which might be regulated by suppression of VEGFR-2 activation. As a novel inhibitor to BRB breakdown, decursin could be applied to variable retinopathies with BRB breakdown.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Benzopyrans / metabolism*
  • Blood-Retinal Barrier / physiology*
  • Butyrates / metabolism*
  • Capillary Permeability
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microcirculation
  • Occludin
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism
  • Retina / cytology
  • Retina / metabolism
  • Tight Junctions / metabolism
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / metabolism*
  • Zonula Occludens-1 Protein
  • Zonula Occludens-2 Protein

Substances

  • Benzopyrans
  • Butyrates
  • Membrane Proteins
  • OCLN protein, human
  • Occludin
  • Ocln protein, mouse
  • Phosphoproteins
  • TJP1 protein, human
  • TJP2 protein, human
  • Tjp1 protein, mouse
  • Tjp2 protein, mouse
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Zonula Occludens-1 Protein
  • Zonula Occludens-2 Protein
  • decursin
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2