title: Inhibition of NOX1/4 with GKT137831: a potential novel treatment to attenuate neuroglial cell inflammation in the retina.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inflammation and the excess production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute significantly to the pathogenesis of ischemic retinopathies such as diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity. We hypothesized that GKT137831, a dual inhibitor of NADPH oxidases (NOX) 1 and NOX4, reduces inflammation in the ischemic retina by dampening the pro-inflammatory phenotype of retinal immune cells as well as macroglial Müller cells and neurons.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ischemic retinopathy was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by exposure to 80 % O2 cycled with 21 % O2 for 3 h per day from postnatal day (P) 0 to P11, followed by room air (P12 to P18). GKT137831 was administered P12 to P18 (60 mg/kg, subcutaneous) and comparisons were to room air controls. Retinal inflammation was examined by measuring leukocyte adherence to the retinal vasculature, ionized calcium-binding adaptor protein-1-positive microglia/macrophages, and the mRNA and protein levels of key inflammatory factors involved in retinal disease. Damage to Müller cells was evaluated by quantitating glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive cells and vascular leakage with an albumin ELISA. To verify the anti-inflammatory actions of GKT137831 on glia and neurons involved in ischemic retinopathy, primary cultures of rat retinal microglia, Müller cells, and ganglion cells were exposed to the in vitro counterpart of ischemia, hypoxia (0.5 %), and treated with GKT137831 for up to 72 h. ROS levels were evaluated with dihydroethidium and the protein and gene expression of inflammatory factors with quantitative PCR, ELISA, and a protein cytokine array.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the ischemic retina, GKT137831 reduced the increased leukocyte adherence to the vasculature, the pro-inflammatory phenotype of microglia and macroglia, the increased gene and protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and leukocyte adhesion molecules as well as vascular leakage. In all cultured cell types, GKT137831 reduced the hypoxia-induced increase in ROS levels and protein expression of various inflammatory mediators.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NOX1/4 enzyme inhibition with GKT137831 has potent anti-inflammatory effects in the retina, indicating its potential as a treatment for a variety of vision-threatening retinopathies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Monash University, Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct Level 6, 89 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 3004.
authors.forename: Devy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Deliyanti
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Monash University, Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct Level 6, 89 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 3004. jennifer.wilkinson-berka@monash.edu.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wilkinson-Berka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000150:complications; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009247:NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000187:drug effects; D000074624:NADPH Oxidase 1; D000074663:NADPH Oxidase 4; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000187:drug effects; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047069:Pyrazolones; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011728:Pyridones; D051381:Rats; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012173:Retinitis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C491766:Ccl2 protein, rat; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D011720:Pyrazoles; D047069:Pyrazolones; D011725:Pyridines; D011728:Pyridones; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; C576694:setanaxib; D009247:NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases; D000074624:NADPH Oxidase 1; D000074663:NADPH Oxidase 4; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; C000614712:NOX1 protein, rat; C498911:Nox4 protein, rat