Oxytocin Mitigates VEGF Expression in Differentiated RPE cells - A Novel Therapeutic Approach for Diabetic Retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of vision loss, driven largely by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced neovascularization and vascular permeability. Current therapies rely on intravitreal anti-VEGF injections that mitigate VEGF action, but they require repeated administration, can cause complications, and are ineffective in some patients. Oxytocin (OXT), a neuropeptide best known for reproductive and social roles, has recently been implicated in metabolic regulation and vascular signaling. Evidence from animal models suggests that OXT may reduce VEGF expression in the retina. However, the underlying molecular mechanism is not known. The present study seeks to investigate the cellular and molecular bases of this VEGF inhibition by OXT. Results from our experiments revealed that OXT significantly reduced VEGF secretion by ARPE-19 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Together with in-vivo studies on OXT and VEGF reduction in animal models, our results support the suggestion that OXT is a candidate for upstream therapeutic intervention of DR at an early stage of disease development.