The influences of purple sweet potato anthocyanin on the growth characteristics of human retinal
pigment epithelial cells
Sammanfattning
Background: Anthocyanins have been proven to be beneficial to the eyes. However, information
is scarce about
the effects of purple sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas, L.) anthocyanin (PSPA), a class of anthocyanins
derived
from purple sweet potato roots, on visual health.
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether PSPA could have influences on the
growth
characteristics (cellular morphology, survival, and proliferation) of human retinal pigment epithelial
(RPE)
cells, which perform essential functions for the visual process.
Methods: The RPE cell line D407 was used in the present study. The cytotoxicity of PSPA was
assessed by
MTT assay. Then, cellular morphology, viability, cell cycle, Ki67expression, and PI3K/MAPK
activation of
RPE cells treated with PSPA were determined.
Results: PSPA exhibited dose-dependent promotion of RPE cell proliferation at concentrations
ranging from
10 to 1,000 mg/ml. RPE cells treated with PSPA demonstrated a predominantly polygonal morphology
in a
mosaic arrangement, and colony-like cells displayed numerous short apical microvilli and typical
ultrastructure. PSPA treatment also resulted in a better platform growing status, statistically higher
viability,
an increase in the S-phase, and more Ki67 cells. However, neither pAkt nor pERK were detected in
either
group.
Conclusions:We found that PSPA maintained high cell viability, boosted DNA synthesis, and
preserved a high
percentage of continuously cycling cells to promote cell survival and division without changing cell
morphology. This paper lays the foundation for further research about the damage-protective
activities of
PSPA on RPE cells or human vision.