Activation of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-2 Ameliorates Retinal Cell Damage and Exerts Protection in in vitro Model of Diabetic Retinopathy

β-Hydroxybutyrate mitigates the detrimental effects of high glucose in human retinal pigment epithelial ARPE-19 cells

High glucose leads to cellular damage and dysfunction in the retina. Dietary interventions, including the use of ketogenic diets, have been explored for their potential to reduce the adverse effects of hyperglycemia. β-Hydroxybutyrate (BHB), a ketone body, has immune and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aims to investigate whether BHB ameliorates the harmful effects induced by high glucose in ARPE-19 cells, a model of retinal pigment epithelium. We investigated the effects induced by high glucose and/or BHB on viability, migration, colony-forming ability, cell cycle progression and cytokine production. Our data indicate that high glucose significantly reduces the viability of ARPE-19 cells with no significant changes in apoptosis or autophagy, while inducing cell cytostasis. On the other hand, BHB exerts a protective effect on ARPE-19 cells under hyperglycemic conditions improving cell viability and alleviating glucose-induced cell cycle arrest. Additionally, BHB treatment affects the expression of IL-8 and IL-17α, as well as of MCP-1, modulating the inflammatory response, cell migration and wound healing. In conclusion, this study highlights the potential protective role of BHB against the detrimental effects induced by high glucose on ARPE-19 cells. These findings support the use of ketone bodies in mitigating high glucose-induced cellular damage. Future research will be critical to translate these findings to the clinical practice for metabolic diseases.

Contribution of Interleukin-17A to Retinal Degenerative Diseases

Retinal degenerative diseases are a leading cause of vision loss and blindness throughout the world, characterized by chronic and progressive loss of neurons and/or myelin. One of the common features of retinal degenerative diseases and central neurodegenerative diseases is chronic neuroinflammation. Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) is the cytokine most closely related to disease in its family. Accumulating evidence suggests that IL-17A plays a key role in human retinal degenerative diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. This review aims to provide an overview of the role of IL-17A participating in the pathogenesis of retinal degenerative diseases, which may open new avenues for potential therapeutic interventions.