Effect of Esculetin on Tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide-Induced Oxidative Injury in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells In Vitro

Abstract

Esculetin is a coumarin-derived compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The current study aims to evaluate the therapeutic implications of esculetin on retinal dysfunction and uncover the underlying mechanisms. Tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) at a concentration of 300 μM was used to induce oxidative stress in human retinal pigment epithelial cell line (ARPE-19) cells. Esculetin at concentrations below 250 μM did not cause cytotoxicity to ARPE-19 cells. Cell viability analysis confirmed that t-BHP induced oxidative injury of ARPE-19 cells. However, ARPE-19 cells were protected from t-BHP-induced oxidative injury by esculetin in a concentration-dependent manner. As a result of the TUNEL assay to confirm apoptosis, esculetin treatment reduced the number of TUNEL-positive cells. Esculetin down-regulated the expression levels of Bax, Caspase-3, and PARP and up-regulated the expression level of Bcl2. Collectively, this study demonstrates that esculetin exerts potent antioxidant properties in ARPE-19 cells, inhibiting t-BHP-induced apoptosis under the regulation of apoptotic factors.

Nanostructured Lipid Carriers Aimed to the Ocular Delivery of Mangiferin: In Vitro Evidence

“…In the present study, we investigated antioxidants’ effects on ARPE-19, a retinal pigment epithelial cell line, derived from the normal eyes of a 19-year-old male. The loss of retinal pigment epithelial cells is one of the leading causes of several eye diseases [ 26 , 27 , 28 ]. Briefly, ARPE-19 cells were trypsinized (0.25% trypsin-EDTA solution), counted and resuspended in DMEM F-12 30-2006 TM medium containing 2.5 mM L-glutamine, 15 mM Hepes, 0.5 mM sodium pyruvate and 1200 mg/L sodium bicarbonate.…”

Protective Effects and Mechanisms of Esculetin against H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress, Apoptosis, and Pyroptosis in Human Hepatoma HepG2 Cells

“…Esc is a natural antioxidant with good antioxidant properties, which possesses a strong free radical-scavenging capacity [6]. Esc can protect ARPE-19 cells and HEK293 cells from t-BHP-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis [7,8]. Esc can also inhibit amyloid protein-induced oxidative stress and neuronal death in SH-SY5Y cells through the activation of Nrf2 and increase in GSH [9].…”