Coumestrol mitigates retinal cell inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress in a rat model of diabetic retinopathy via activation of SIRT1.

ABSTRACT: Diabetes-induced oxidative stress is vital in initiating neuronal damage in the diabetic retina, leading to diabetic retinopathy (DR). This study investigates the possible effects of coumestrol (CMS) on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DR. First, we established a rat model of DR by STZ injection and a cell model involving high-glucose (HG) exposure of human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (hRMECs). We characterized the expression patterns of oxidative stress indicators, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and pro-apoptotic proteins in hRMECs. Polymerase chain reaction showed sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) to be poorly expressed in the retinal tissues of STZ-treated rats and HG-exposed hRMECs, but its expression was upregulated upon treatment with CMS treatment. Furthermore, CMS treatment attenuated the STZ

SUBMITTER: Xu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7950241 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature