Methylene blue reduces IL-1β levels by enhancing ERK1/2 and AKT phosphorylation to improve diabetic retinopathy in rats.
- Author:
Huade MAI
1
;
Shenhong GU
1
;
Biwei FU
2
;
Xinbo JI
1
;
Minghui CHEN
1
;
Juming CHEN
1
;
Yunbo ZHANG
1
;
Yunyun LIN
1
;
Chenghong LIU
2
;
Yanling SONG
3
Author Information
1. Department of General Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570102, China.
2. Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570102, China.
3. Department of General Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570102, China. *Corresponding author, E-mail: 348002558@qq.com.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Rats;
Animals;
Diabetic Retinopathy/metabolism*;
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism*;
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3/metabolism*;
Interleukin-1beta/metabolism*;
Methylene Blue/pharmacology*;
Phosphorylation;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley;
MAP Kinase Signaling System;
Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/drug therapy*;
Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism*
- From:
Chinese Journal of Cellular and Molecular Immunology
2023;39(5):423-428
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To investigate the neuroprotective effect of methylene blue on diabetic retinopathy in rats. Methods Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into blank, control and experimental groups. The control and experimental groups were induced with diabetes by streptozotocin (STZ) intraperitoneal injection. After 6 weeks of successful modeling, the experimental group received intravitreal injection of methylene blue at a dose of [0.2 mg/(kg.d)], while the control group received an equal amount of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) intravitreal injection, both continuously injected for 7 days. ELISA was used to detect the levels of retinal superoxide dismutase (SOD), 8-iso-prostaglandin F2alpha (iPF2α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in rats. Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression of retinal extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 phosphorylation (p-ERK1/2) and phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-AKT), and PAS staining was used to detect retinal morphological changes. Results Compared with the blank group rats, the retinal SOD activity in the control and experimental group rats was significantly reduced. iPF2α, IL-1β and p-ERK1/2 level increased, while p-AKT level decreased. Compared with the control group, the SOD activity of the experimental group rats increased. iPF2α and IL-1β level went down, while p-ERK1/2 and p-AKT level went up significantly. The overall thickness of the retinal layer and the number of retinal ganglion cells were significantly reduced. Conclusion Methylene blue improves diabetic retinopathy in rats by reducing retinal oxidative stress and enhancing ERK1/2 and AKT phosphorylation.
