Sitagliptin and the Blood-Retina Barrier: Effects on Retinal Endothelial Cells Manifested Only after Prolonged Exposure

Inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) are widely used to treat diabetes mellitus, but data concerning their effects on the barrier stability of retinal endothelial cells (REC) in vivo and in vitro are inconsistent. Therefore, we studied whether the barrier properties of immortalized endotheli...

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Main Authors: Anja Jäckle, Focke Ziemssen, Eva-Maria Kuhn, Jürgen Kampmeier, Gerhard K. Lang, Gabriele E. Lang, Helmut Deissler, Heidrun L. Deissler
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2020-01-01
Series:Journal of Diabetes Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/2450781
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author Anja Jäckle
Focke Ziemssen
Eva-Maria Kuhn
Jürgen Kampmeier
Gerhard K. Lang
Gabriele E. Lang
Helmut Deissler
Heidrun L. Deissler
author_facet Anja Jäckle
Focke Ziemssen
Eva-Maria Kuhn
Jürgen Kampmeier
Gerhard K. Lang
Gabriele E. Lang
Helmut Deissler
Heidrun L. Deissler
author_sort Anja Jäckle
collection DOAJ
description Inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) are widely used to treat diabetes mellitus, but data concerning their effects on the barrier stability of retinal endothelial cells (REC) in vivo and in vitro are inconsistent. Therefore, we studied whether the barrier properties of immortalized endothelial cells of the bovine retina (iBREC) were affected by the inhibitors of DPP-4 sitagliptin (10-1000 nM) and diprotin A (1-25 μM). Their effects were also investigated in the presence of VEGF-A165 because diabetic patients often develop macular edema caused by VEGF-A-induced permeability of REC. To detect even transient or subtle changes of paracellular and transcellular flow as well as adhesion of the cells to the extracellular matrix, we continuously monitored the cell index (CI) of confluent iBREC grown on gold electrodes. Initially, the CI remained stable but started to decline significantly and persistently at 40 h or 55 h after addition of sitagliptin or diprotin A, respectively. Both inhibitors did not modulate, prevent, or revert the persistent VEGF-A165-induced reduction of the CI. Interestingly, sitagliptin and diprotin A increased the expression of the tight-junction protein claudin-1 which is an important component of a functional barrier formed by iBREC. In contrast, expressions of CD29—a subunit of the fibronectin receptor—or of the tetraspanin CD9 were lower after extended treatment with the DPP-4 inhibitors; less of the CD9 was seen at the plasma membrane after prolonged exposure to sitagliptin. Because both associated proteins are important for adhesion of iBREC to the extracellular matrix, the observed low CI might be caused by weakened attachment of the cells. From our results, we conclude that extended inhibition of DPP-4 destabilizes the barrier formed by microvascular REC and that DPP-4 inhibitors like sitagliptin do not counteract or enhance a VEGF-A165-induced barrier dysfunction as frequently observed in DME.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2314-6745
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publishDate 2020-01-01
publisher Wiley
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series Journal of Diabetes Research
spelling doaj-art-15a9a314203046ed9840610926fbff252025-02-03T01:05:17ZengWileyJournal of Diabetes Research2314-67452314-67532020-01-01202010.1155/2020/24507812450781Sitagliptin and the Blood-Retina Barrier: Effects on Retinal Endothelial Cells Manifested Only after Prolonged ExposureAnja Jäckle0Focke Ziemssen1Eva-Maria Kuhn2Jürgen Kampmeier3Gerhard K. Lang4Gabriele E. Lang5Helmut Deissler6Heidrun L. Deissler7Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ulm, Prittwitzstrasse 43, 89075 Ulm, GermanyCentre of Ophthalmology, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Straße 7, 72076 Tübingen, GermanyDepartment of Ophthalmology, University of Ulm, Prittwitzstrasse 43, 89075 Ulm, GermanyDepartment of Ophthalmology, University of Ulm, Prittwitzstrasse 43, 89075 Ulm, GermanyDepartment of Ophthalmology, University of Ulm, Prittwitzstrasse 43, 89075 Ulm, GermanyDepartment of Ophthalmology, University of Ulm, Prittwitzstrasse 43, 89075 Ulm, GermanyDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ulm, Frauensteige 14, 89075 Ulm, GermanyDepartment of Ophthalmology, University of Ulm, Prittwitzstrasse 43, 89075 Ulm, GermanyInhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) are widely used to treat diabetes mellitus, but data concerning their effects on the barrier stability of retinal endothelial cells (REC) in vivo and in vitro are inconsistent. Therefore, we studied whether the barrier properties of immortalized endothelial cells of the bovine retina (iBREC) were affected by the inhibitors of DPP-4 sitagliptin (10-1000 nM) and diprotin A (1-25 μM). Their effects were also investigated in the presence of VEGF-A165 because diabetic patients often develop macular edema caused by VEGF-A-induced permeability of REC. To detect even transient or subtle changes of paracellular and transcellular flow as well as adhesion of the cells to the extracellular matrix, we continuously monitored the cell index (CI) of confluent iBREC grown on gold electrodes. Initially, the CI remained stable but started to decline significantly and persistently at 40 h or 55 h after addition of sitagliptin or diprotin A, respectively. Both inhibitors did not modulate, prevent, or revert the persistent VEGF-A165-induced reduction of the CI. Interestingly, sitagliptin and diprotin A increased the expression of the tight-junction protein claudin-1 which is an important component of a functional barrier formed by iBREC. In contrast, expressions of CD29—a subunit of the fibronectin receptor—or of the tetraspanin CD9 were lower after extended treatment with the DPP-4 inhibitors; less of the CD9 was seen at the plasma membrane after prolonged exposure to sitagliptin. Because both associated proteins are important for adhesion of iBREC to the extracellular matrix, the observed low CI might be caused by weakened attachment of the cells. From our results, we conclude that extended inhibition of DPP-4 destabilizes the barrier formed by microvascular REC and that DPP-4 inhibitors like sitagliptin do not counteract or enhance a VEGF-A165-induced barrier dysfunction as frequently observed in DME.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/2450781
spellingShingle Anja Jäckle
Focke Ziemssen
Eva-Maria Kuhn
Jürgen Kampmeier
Gerhard K. Lang
Gabriele E. Lang
Helmut Deissler
Heidrun L. Deissler
Sitagliptin and the Blood-Retina Barrier: Effects on Retinal Endothelial Cells Manifested Only after Prolonged Exposure
Journal of Diabetes Research
title Sitagliptin and the Blood-Retina Barrier: Effects on Retinal Endothelial Cells Manifested Only after Prolonged Exposure
title_full Sitagliptin and the Blood-Retina Barrier: Effects on Retinal Endothelial Cells Manifested Only after Prolonged Exposure
title_fullStr Sitagliptin and the Blood-Retina Barrier: Effects on Retinal Endothelial Cells Manifested Only after Prolonged Exposure
title_full_unstemmed Sitagliptin and the Blood-Retina Barrier: Effects on Retinal Endothelial Cells Manifested Only after Prolonged Exposure
title_short Sitagliptin and the Blood-Retina Barrier: Effects on Retinal Endothelial Cells Manifested Only after Prolonged Exposure
title_sort sitagliptin and the blood retina barrier effects on retinal endothelial cells manifested only after prolonged exposure
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/2450781
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