Apelin-13 Is an Early Promoter of Cytoskeleton and Tight Junction in Diabetic Macular Edema via PI-3K/Akt and MAPK/Erk Signaling Pathways

Figure 4

Inhibition of apelin receptor APJ using F13A decreased cell proliferation, migration, and the expression of cytoskeleton and tight junction proteins in HRMECs under high glucose condition. (a–c) According to the MTS and transwell assay results, the HRMECs proliferation and migration capability were decreased in a dose-dependent manner, significantly lower in the F13A group, compared with the control one, and the optimum concentration was 20 ng/ml. (d-e) IF staining showed that the phosphorylation of occludin and ZO-1 was downregulated after being treated with F13A in HRMECs under high glucose condition. Cells were stained with DAPI for visualization of nuclei (blue). Scale bar = 50 μm for (d and e). (f-g) The western blot results showed that the phosphorylation of cytoskeleton and tight junction were also downregulated in a dose-dependent way after being stimulated with F13A. Protein intensity was quantified by Image J software and expressed as fold of change relative to control (mean ± SD, ). , versus control one, Student’s -test.

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