Dehydroepiandrosterone protects bovine retinal capillary pericytes against glucose toxicity

• Published in: Journal of endocrinology Vol. 158; no. 1; pp. 21 - 26
• Main Authors: Brignardello, E, Beltramo, E, Molinatti, PA, Aragno, M, Gatto, V, Tamagno, E, Danni, O, Porta, M, Boccuzzi, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Colchester BioScientifica 01-07-1998; Portland Press
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; Androstenediol - pharmacology; Animals; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Capillaries; Cattle; Cell Division - drug effects; Cells, Cultured; Dehydroepiandrosterone - pharmacology; Dihydrotestosterone - pharmacology; Estradiol - pharmacology; General and cellular metabolism. Vitamins; Glucose - toxicity; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Medical sciences; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Retinal Vessels - cytology; Retinal Vessels - drug effects; Endocrinopathy; Pericyte; Retinopathy; Diabetes mellitus; Ox; Retina; Glucose; In vitro; Eye; Visual system; Eye disease; Vertebrata; Dehydroepiandrosterone; Mammalia; Artiodactyla; Protection; Ungulata
• ISSN: 0022-0795; 1479-6805
• DOI: 10.1677/joe.0.1580021

Pericyte loss is an early feature of diabetic retinopathy and represents a key step in the progression of this disease. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dehydroepiandro-sterone (DHEA) on glucose toxicity in retinal capillary pericytes. Bovine retinal pericytes (BRP) were cultured in a high glucose concentration, with or without DHEA. After 4 days of incubation the number of BRP was significantly reduced by the high glucose concentration. The addition of DHEA to the medium reversed the adverse effect of high glucose: BRP proliferation partially recovered in the presence of 10 nmol/l DHEA, and completely recovered in the presence of DHEA at concentrations equal to or greater than 100 nmol/l. At physiological glucose concentrations, DHEA had no effect on BRP growth. Data show that DHEA, at concentrations similar to those found in human plasma, protects BRP against glucose toxicity. This effect seems specific for DHEA, since its metabolites, 5-en-androstene-3 beta, 17 beta-diol, dihydrotestosterone and estradiol did not alter BRP growth in normal or high glucose media. Various pieces of evidence link the antioxidant properties of DHEA to its protective effect on glucose-induced toxicity in BRP.