YM155 inhibits retinal pigment epithelium cell survival through EGFR/MAPK signaling pathway

AIM:To investigate YM155’s effect on retinal pigment epithelium(RPE)cells’viability and the potential regulatory mechanisms.METHODS:Human immortalized RPE cell lines(ARPE-19 cell line)were processed with YM155 and epidermal growth factor(EGF).ARPE-19 cell viability was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay,and apoptosis was tested by flow cytometry assay.ARPE-19 cell proliferation was assessed with bromodeoxyuridine tagged incorporation assay,and migration ability was evaluated via a wound-healing assay.Epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)/MAPK pathway proteins were tested via immunoblotting.EGFR localization was examined by immunofluorescence assay.RESULTS:YM155 suppressed ARPE-19 cells’viability in a time and concentration-dependent manner.A high dose of YM155 caused a small amount of ARPE-19 cell death.YM155 significantly diminished the ARPE-19 cells’proliferative and migrative capacity.YM155 downregulated total EGFR and phosphorylated external signalregulated protein kinase(ERK),and it up-regulated the phosphorylation of P38 MAPK and c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK).YM155 induced endocytosis of EGFR in ARPE-19 cell.YM155 also attenuated EGF-induced ARPE-19 cells’proliferative and migrative capacity.Moreover,YM155 significantly decreased the expression of phosphorylated EGFR and ERK after treated by EGF.CONCLUSION:YM155 inhibits RPE cell survival,the cell proliferative and migrative capacity,and it effectuates a small amount of cell death through the EGFR/MAPK signaling pathway.YM155 might,therefore,be an agent to prevent and treat abnormal RPE cell survival in proliferative vitreoretinopathy.