Effect of diabetes blood-stasis syndrome and Xuefu Zhuyu decoction on ROS-ERK1/2 signaling pathway in rat retina Muller cells

This research aimed to investigate whether diabetic blood-stasis syndrome had a relationship with ROS-ERK1/2 signaling pathway in rat retina Muller cells and explore the effects of traditional Chinese drugs designed for promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis on diabetic retinopathy (DR) treatment. Immunofluorescence was applied to determine purity of Muller cells. The diabetes was induced in rats by streptozotocin (STZ). Muller cells were stimulated by blood serum obtained from rats with blood-stasis syndrome and then treated by Xuefu Zhuyu decoction. Kits for reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) were used for corresponding detection. Western blot analysis was used to determine the phosphorylation of ERK1/2. The results indicated that stimulation of Muller cells by blood serum of rats with diabetic blood-stasis syndrome increased the expression of ROS, inhibited SOD and GSH, and activated ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Treatment of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction could weaken this phenomenon. What's more, similar effects of ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126 with Xuefu Zhuyu decoction proved the involvement of ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Therefore, our results suggested that traditional Chinese drugs for promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis would be an effective therapy to treat DR.