J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2007 May;48(5):715-724.

Suppression of VEGF and STAT3 by Lipoic acid in Experimental Diabetic Rat Retina

• Yu SI
• Jung HJ
• Her DY
• Kim HW
• Yun IH

Abstract

PURPOSE: We evaluated whether lipoic acid as antioxidant could inhibit expression of VEGF and STAT3 in experimental diabetic rat retina.
METHODS
Diabetes was induced chemically by injection of streptozotocin in 12 rats of 18 Sprague-Dawley rats. After induction of diabetes, lipoic acid was injected into the peritonium in 6 rats. So all rats were divided into 3 groups, normal group (n=6), diabetes mellitus (DM) group (n=6), lipoic acid treated group (n=6). The ocular tissue of the rats were collected on 8 weeks after diabetes induction. Difference of VEGF and STAT3 expression was investigated by immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, western blot. The change of VEGF and STAT3 in lipoic acid treated group were evaluated in these experimental model.
RESULTS
The VEGF and STAT3 expression was elevated in diabetic rat retina. The active form STAT3, phosphorylated STAT3 was also elevated. The VEGF and STAT3 expression in lipoic acid treated group was lower than DM group.
CONCLUSIONS
The lipoic acid could inhibit the VEGF and STAT3 expression in diabetic rat retina.

Keyword

Diabetic retinopathy; Lipoic acid; STAT3; VEGF

MeSH Terms

Animals
Blotting, Western
Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetic Retinopathy
Immunohistochemistry
Models, Theoretical
Rats*
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Retina*
Streptozocin
Thioctic Acid*
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*
Streptozocin
Thioctic Acid
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A