Ritonavir inhibits HIF-1α-mediated VEGF expression in retinal pigment epithelial cells in vitro.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Retinal hypoxia-mediated activation of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF pathway) leading to angiogenesis is a major signaling mechanism underlying a number of sight-threatening diseases. Inhibiting this signaling mechanism with an already approved therapeutic molecule may have promising anti-angiogenic role with fewer side effects. Hence, the primary objective of this study was to examine the expression of HIF-1α and VEGF in human retinal pigment epithelial cells treated with ritonavir under hypoxic and normoxic conditions.

Methods

ARPE-19 and D407 cells were cultured in normoxic or hypoxic conditions, alone or in the presence of ritonavir. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunoblot analysis, sandwich ELISA, endothelial cell proliferation, and cyto

SUBMITTER: Vadlapatla RK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3890766 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature