Aflibercept and Ranibizumab Modulate Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells Function by Acting on Their Cross Talk with Vascular Endothelial Cells

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We performed co-culture experiments between human RPE cells (ARPE-19) and human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) in order to evaluate how anti-VEGF drugs could affect NO release, mitochondrial function, the oxidative status, proliferation and migration of RPE cells through modulation of their cross talk with vascular endothelial cells. METHODS: The co-culture HUVEC/RPE, was exposed to Ranibizumab/Aflibercept in the absence/presence of the NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor, the phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K), the extracellular-signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) and the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) blockers. Specific kits were used for cell viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, NO, ROS and GSH production. Western blot was performed for apoptosis markers, NOS isoforms, and others kinases detection. Cell migration was analyzed by scratch assay, whereas cell proliferation and cell cycle through xCELLigence and flow cytometry. RESULTS: In RPE cells co-cultured with HUVEC in physiological conditions, Aflibercept/Ranibizumab increased NO release in a dose and time-dependent way. Opposite results were obtained in peroxidative conditions. Both anti-VEGF agents were able to prevent the fall of cell viability and mitochondrial membrane potential, an effect which was reduced by various inhibitors, and increased cell migration. Aflibercept/Ranibizumab counteracted the changes of apoptosis markers, NOS expression/activation, PI3K and ERK1/2 activation caused by peroxidation. These results were confirmed by cell cycle analysis. CONCLUSION: This study has shown new mechanisms at the basis of protective effects elicited by Aflibercept/Ranibizumab in RPE cells. HUVEC stimulated with Aflibercept/Ranibizumab, could release some paracrine factors that can modulate the RPE cells response in both physiologic and peroxidative conditions.