DHA-promoted repair of human corneal epithelial cells in high-glucose environment

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate DHA's effect and relative mechanisms in diabetic keratopathy (DK) treatment by vitro study. Methods and materials: Using high glucose to make DK cell model; measuring cell apoptosis by flow cytometry and Hoechst 33342 staining; evaluating cell migration abilities by wound healing assay; relative gene and proteins including PEDF, VEGF, Caspase-3, Caspase-9 and NF-kappa B(p65) expression by RT-qPCR and WB assay; And evaluatign PDEF and p-NF-kappa B(p65) protein expression by immunofluorescence detection. Results: After high glucose treatment, TKE-2 cell apoptosis was significantly increased and cell migration ability was significantly depressed with PEDF, Caspase-3, Caspase-9 and NF-kappa B(p65) gene and protein significantly increasing and VEGF expression significantly depressing (P < 0.001, respectively); with DHA supplement, TKE-2 cell biological activities were significantly improved with relative gene and proteins significantly changed; However, with DHA and PEDF supplement, DHA's treatment was disappeared with PEDF, Caspase-3, Caspase-9 and NF-kappa B(p65) gene and protein significantly increasing and VEGF expression significantly depressing (P < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: DHA had effects to improved DK by regulation PEDF pathway in vitro study.