Figure 5.

The effect of VEGF-B on GS, Kir4.1 and AQP4 expression in Müller cells under hypoxia and oxidative stress. (A) QMMuC-1 cells were treated with recombinant VEGF-A or VEGF-B and the expression of GS was measured by Western blotting. (B) Western Blot analysis of GS expression in QMMuC-1 cells cultured in hypoxic conditions for 72 hours with or without recombinant VEGF-A or VEGF-B. (C and D) Kir4.1 mRNA (C) and protein (D) expression in hypoxia (1% O₂ for 72 hours) treated QMMuC-1 (C, D, left) and PMCs (D, right) with or without VEGF-B neutralizing antibody. (E and F) AQP4 mRNA (E) and protein (F) expression in QMMuC-1 cells in hypoxia condition with or without VEGF-B neutralization. (G) GS expression in QMMuC-1 cells under oxidative conditions (4-HNE) with/without VEGF-B neutralization. (H and I) AQP4 mRNA (H) and protein (I) expression in 4-HNE treated QMMuC-1 with or without VEGF-B neutralization. VEGF-B antibody, 500 ng/mL. 4-HNE, 10 µM. Data normalized to control values. n = 3–5/group in qPCR; n = 4–10 in Western Blot. ^*P < 0.05; ^**P < 0.01; ^***P < 0.005; ^****P < 0.001. One-way ANOVA followed by Newmann-Keuls post hoc test. AB, antibody. Recomb, recombinant.