Effect of HIF-1α antisense oligo-deoxynucleotides on proliferation of bovine retinal endothelial cells

Objective To investigate the effect of hypoxia-inducible factors-1α( HIF-1α) antisense oligo-deoxynucleotides ( ASODN) on the proliferation of bovine retinal endothelial cell( BREC) and the therapy effects of HIF-1α ASODN on retinal neovasculation. Methods HIF-1α ASODN were designed and constructed and were transfected into BREC cell line. The rate of transfection was detected by fluorescence microscopy. The BREC cells were cultured in normoxic and CoCl2-induced hypoxic condition respectively. At the same time positive control( ASODN group) and control group were set for comparison. Expressions of HIF-1α were measured with immunofluorescence staining. Immunohistochemical staining of PCNA and bioluminescence-based ATP assay were used to detect proliferation of BREC cells. Results HIF-1α ASODN was successfully transfected into BREC cells. After the transfection,immunofluorescence staining revealed that the expressions of HIF-1α of antisense group was significantly lower than those of the control group. The results from the immunohistochemical staining of PCNA and bioluminescence-based ATP assay indicated that the cell proliferation of the antisense group was inhibited. The inhibition peaked at 8 hours after the hypoxic condition,P 0. 01. Conclusions The transfection of HIF-1α ASODN could effectively down-regulate the expression of HIF-1α and reduce cell proliferation of BREC cells. The therapeutic prospect of HIF-1α ASODN on retinal neovasculation is worthy of further investigation.