AIM: To observe the effect of AGGF1 on the proliferation, migration and tube formation of retinal endothelial cells in diabetic retinal tissue and high glucose conditions.

METHODS: C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into the control group and diabetic retinopathy(DR)model group. The cultured rhesus monkey choroido-retinal endothelial cells(RF/6A cells)were randomly divided into the control group(cultured in low-glucose environment)and the high-glucose group(cultured in medium with 25mmol/L D-glucose), and the AGGF1 protein expression in the cells was detected by immunofluorescence assay. RF/6A cells were then divided into the control group and AGGF1 treatment group, and cell proliferation, migration and tube formation was detected by CCK-8, Transwell and Matrigel, respectively.

RESULTS: AGGF1 protein was expressed in all layers of the retinas and in vascular endothelial cells. The expression of AGGF1 in the retinas of DR group(0.17±0.05)was significantly higher than that of the control group(0.07±0.02)(P<0.05). AGGF1 protein was expressed in RF/6A cells in both the high glucose group and the control group, and the expression of AGGF1 in RF/6A cells under high glucose was significantly higher(0.63±0.10)than that in the control group(0.40±0.03)(P<0.05). After 12h of treatment, the cell proliferation rate(114.88%±0.84%)in the AGGF1 group was significantly higher than that in the control group(100.00%±2.17%)(P<0.05). After 24h of treatment, the cell proliferation rate of the AGGF1 group(157.35%±1.89%)was significantly higher than that of the control group(142.77%±0.50%)(P<0.05). After 48h of treatment, the cell proliferation rate of the AGGF1 group(185.39%±1.90%)was significantly higher than that of the control group(160.17%±1.33%)(P<0.05). After 12h of treatment, the number of migrated cells(127.00±7.00)in the AGGF1 group was significantly higher than that in the control group(90.33±6.66)(P<0.05). After 12h of treatment, the number of tube formation(33.67±1.15)in the AGGF1 group was significantly higher than that in the control group(15.33±3.51)(P<0.05). The total tube length in AGGF1 group(8226.33±288.55)μm was significantly higher than that in the control group(6463.33±938.01)μm(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The expression of AGGF1 protein was significantly increased in diabetic retinal tissues and retinal vascular endothelial cells induced by high glucose. AGGF1 can promote the proliferation, migration and tube formation of retinal vascular endothelial cells, suggesting that AGGF1 may be involved in retinal neovascularization of DR.