Puerarin ameliorates retinal ganglion cell damage induced by retinal ischemia/reperfusion through inhibiting the activation of TLR4/NLRP3 inflammasome

• Published in: Life sciences (1973) 2020-09, Vol.256, p.117935-117935, Article 117935
• Main Authors: Guan, Linan, Li, Chao, Zhang, Yi, Gong, Jianying, Wang, Guangyu, Tian, Pei, Shen, Ning
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Apoptosis; Blindness; Damage; Deprivation; Eye (anatomy); In vivo methods and tests; Inflammasomes; Inflammation; Injuries; Ischemia; Medical treatment; Oxidative stress; Puerarin; Reperfusion; Retina; Retinal ganglion cells; Retinal ischemia/reperfusion; Rodents; TLR4 protein; TLR4/NLRP3 inflammasome; Toll-like receptors
• ISSN: 0024-3205; 1879-0631
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.117935

Retinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is common in the development of ophthalmic diseases and potentially causes blindness. In present study, the aim is to investigate the possible protective effects of puerarin on retinal I/R. Retinal I/R injury was conducted on the left eyes of male Sprague Dawley rats, which were subsequently received treatment with puerarin. After administration, retinal I/R-induced apoptosis, oxidative stress and inflammatory responses were detected. Meanwhile, we purified retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) from 7-day-old rats. After subjected RGCs to oxygen and glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R), apoptosis and TLR4/NLRP3 inflammasome activation in RGCs were detected. Puerarin prominently suppressed apoptosis, alleviated oxidative stress and suppressed TLR4/NLRP3 inflammasome activation in rats with retinal I/R injury. Consistent with our in vivo study, we found puerarin ameliorated retinal I/R injury through suppressing apoptosis and TLR4/NLRP3 inflammasome activation in RGCs. Our findings reveal that puerarin plays a protective role against retinal I/R injury by alleviating RGC damage, and is beneficial for the treatment of I/R injury-caused ophthalmic diseases. •Puerarin has protective effects on retinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.•Puerarin suppressed apoptosis and alleviated oxidative stress induced by retinal I/R.•Puerarin ameliorated retinal I/R by suppressing apoptosis and TLR4/NLRP3 inflammasome activation in retinal ganglion cells.•Puerarin might serve as a potential effective treatment for I/R injury-associated ophthalmic diseases.