Open Access

Triptonide protects retinal cells from oxidative damage via activation of Nrf2 signaling

  • Authors:
    • Jinjing Li
    • Jiajun Li
    • Yuan Cao
    • Jin Yuan
    • Yaming Shen
    • Linyi Lei
    • Keran Li
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: July 8, 2024     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2024.5400
  • Article Number: 76
  • Copyright: © Li et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Age‑related macular degeneration (AMD) is an ocular disease that threatens the visual function of older adults worldwide. Key pathological processes involved in AMD include oxidative stress, inflammation and choroidal vascular dysfunction. Retinal pigment epithelial cells and Müller cells are most susceptible to oxidative stress. Traditional herbal medicines are increasingly being investigated in the field of personalized medicine in ophthalmology. Triptonide (Tn) is a diterpene tricyclic oxide, the main active ingredient in the extract from the Chinese herbal medicinal plant Tripterygium wilfordii, and is considered an effective immunosuppressant and anti‑inflammatory drug. The present study investigated the potential beneficial role of Tn in retinal oxidative damage in order to achieve personalized treatment for early AMD. An oxidative stress model of retinal cells induced by H2O2 and a retinal injury model of mice induced by light and N‑Methyl‑D‑aspartic acid were constructed. In vitro, JC‑1 staining, flow cytometry and apoptosis assay confirmed that low concentrations of Tn effectively protected retinal cells from oxidative damage, and reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR and western blotting analyses revealed that Tn reduced the expression of retinal oxidative stress‑related genes and inflammatory factors, which may depend on the PI3K/AKT/mTOR‑induced Nrf2 signaling pathway. In vivo, by retinal immunohistochemistry, hematoxylin and eosin staining and electroretinogram assay, it was found that retinal function and structure improved and choroidal neovascularization was significantly inhibited after Tn pretreatment. These results suggested that Tn is an efficient Nrf2 activator, which can be expected to become a new intervention for diseases such as AMD, to inhibit retinal oxidative stress damage and pathological neovascularization.
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September-2024
Volume 54 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Copy and paste a formatted citation
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Spandidos Publications style
Li J, Li J, Cao Y, Yuan J, Shen Y, Lei L and Li K: Triptonide protects retinal cells from oxidative damage via activation of Nrf2 signaling. Int J Mol Med 54: 76, 2024.
APA
Li, J., Li, J., Cao, Y., Yuan, J., Shen, Y., Lei, L., & Li, K. (2024). Triptonide protects retinal cells from oxidative damage via activation of Nrf2 signaling. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 54, 76. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2024.5400
MLA
Li, J., Li, J., Cao, Y., Yuan, J., Shen, Y., Lei, L., Li, K."Triptonide protects retinal cells from oxidative damage via activation of Nrf2 signaling". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 54.3 (2024): 76.
Chicago
Li, J., Li, J., Cao, Y., Yuan, J., Shen, Y., Lei, L., Li, K."Triptonide protects retinal cells from oxidative damage via activation of Nrf2 signaling". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 54, no. 3 (2024): 76. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2024.5400