심바스타틴이 인체망막색소상피세포에서 카탈라아제 발현에 미치는 영향

The Effect of Simvastatin on the Expression of Catalase in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of simvastatin on the catalase expression in human retinal pigment epithelium. Methods: Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells were incubated for 6 hours and 24 hours with various concentrations of simvastatin. In addition, RPE cells were incubated with 200 μM of H<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>2 </SUB>and various concentrations of simvastatin. After incubation, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to examine the catalase messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression and a catalase assay was performed to examine the catalase activity in RPE. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured using a fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS). Results: Simvastatin increased the amount of catalase mRNA and catalase activity at 10 μM in RPE cells. Under oxidative stress (200 μM of H<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>2</SUB>), 2.5 μM of simvastatin increased the catalase mRNA expression and 5 μM of simvastatin increased catalase activity in RPE cells. In addition, simvastatin reduced free radical formation but this effect was diminished in the presence of an irreversible catalase inhibitor, 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (3-AT). Conclusions: Simvastatin exhibits anti-oxidative effects by inducing the catalase expression in human RPE cells. This anti-oxidative effect may be beneficial for preventing age-related macular degeneration induced by oxidative stress. J Korean Ophthalmol Soc 2014;55(10):1535-1542