Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Rutin prevents retinal ganglion cell death and exerts protective effects by regulating transforming growth factor-β2/Smad2/3Akt/PTEN signaling in experimental rat glaucoma

Ying Li¹, Leilei Qin¹, Liang Ying², Hanguang Dong³, Dabo Wang⁴

For correspondence:- Dabo Wang Email: DebroahKedleth@yahoo.com Tel:+8653282911201

Accepted: 27 April 2019 Published: 31 May 2019

Citation: Li Y, Qin L, Ying L, Dong H, Wang D. Rutin prevents retinal ganglion cell death and exerts protective effects by regulating transforming growth factor-β2/Smad2/3Akt/PTEN signaling in experimental rat glaucoma. Trop J Pharm Res 2019; 18(5):985-993 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v18i5.11

© 2019 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the protective effect of rutin against glaucoma in a rat model, and the mechanisms involved.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were injected hypertonic saline in the limbal vein for elevation of intra-ocular pressure (IOP). Rats in the treatment group were administered rutin at doses of 12.5, 25 or 50 mg/kg orally and daily for 21 days.

Results: Rutin markedly (p < 0.05) reduced IOP and prevented loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). The expression of apoptotic pathway proteins, i.e., Bcl-xL, Bcl-2, Bad and Bax were significantly (p < 0.05) regulated by rutin. Moreover, rutin caused a substantial decrease in TGF-β2 expression, and also down-regulated p-Smad2 and p-Smad3 dose-dependently (p < 0.05). Raised levels of collagen I, fibronectin and elastin were effectively down-regulated. Rutin substantially up-regulated the Akt pathway involved in cell survival, and markedly improved the survival of RGCs subjected to hypoxia in vitro (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: These results reveal that rutin exerts protective effect against glaucoma in a rat model via a mechanism involving regulation of the TGF-β2/Smad2/3Akt/PTEN signaling pathways. Thus, rutin has potentials for use in the management of glaucoma.

Keywords: Apoptosis, Glaucoma, Rutin, Retinal ganglion cell, Smad signaling, Transforming growth factor-β