Effect of aspirin on models of retinal pigment epithelium pathology

• Published in: Clinical & experimental ophthalmology Vol. 44; no. 7; pp. 610 - 617
• Main Authors: Goyal, Sunali, Lyzogubov, Valeriy V, Ali, Omair, Bora, Puran S, Bora, Nalini S, Uwaydat, Sami H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2016; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - pharmacology; aspirin; Aspirin - pharmacology; Cell Line; Chemokine CCL2 - metabolism; choroidal neovascularization; Choroidal Neovascularization - drug therapy; Choroidal Neovascularization - metabolism; Choroidal Neovascularization - pathology; Diet; Disease Models, Animal; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Humans; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Pathology; Retina; retinal degeneration; Retinal Degeneration - drug therapy; Retinal Degeneration - metabolism; Retinal Degeneration - pathology; Retinal Pigment Epithelium - drug effects; Retinal Pigment Epithelium - metabolism; Retinal Pigment Epithelium - pathology; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - metabolism; Wound Healing - drug effects; choroidal neovascularization; aspirin; retinal degeneration
• ISSN: 1442-6404; 1442-9071; 1442-9071
• DOI: 10.1111/ceo.12721

Background To characterize the effect of aspirin (ASA) in mouse models of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and retinal degeneration. Methods In vivo: Male C57BL/6 mice were given ASA in food or regular rodent diet. CNV was induced by argon laser photocoagulation. Subretinal injections of polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG‐400) were administered to induce retinal degeneration. CNV size, laser spot area and mean intensity of VEGF in the laser injured zones were measured. In the PEG injected eyes the thickness of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and choroid was measured. In vitro: Human ARPE‐19 cells were treated with 0.5 or 2.0 mM/L of ASA for 72 h. ELISA was used to measure the concentration of VEGF and CCL‐2 in the supernatants. Additionally, damaged RPE monolayer was treated with ASA (0.5 or 2.0 mM/L) and vehicle separately. Size of damaged area was measured. ELISA was used to measure secretion of VEGF‐A and CCL‐2 by damaged cells after 24 h. Results No statistically significant effect of ASA on CNV size, laser spot size or VEGF expression was noted in CNV model. In the PEG model, ASA did not have any effect on RPE and choroid thickness; however, a significant increase in RPE atrophy was observed (P = 0.02 + 38%). In addition, ASA had a significant effect on the ability of the RPE cells to regenerate and become confluent after mechanical damage. Conclusions ASA at doses consumed clinically for various medical causes may not worsen CNV in human subjects. However, ASA may increase RPE atrophy when consumed over long periods of time.