Apigenin Attenuates Oxidative Injury in ARPE-19 Cells thorough Activation of Nrf2 Pathway

The current study was aimed at evaluating the therapeutic implication of apigenin and to elucidate the underlying mechanism. The tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) at 200 μM was used to induce oxidative stress-associated injury in ARPE-19 cells. Apigenin at concentrations less than 800 μM did not cause cytotoxic effects on ARPE-19 cells. Cell viability assay showed that apigenin at 200 μM significantly promoted cell survival in t-BHP-treated ARPE-19 cells. Additionally, apigenin at 100 μM significantly protected ARPE-19 cells from t-BHP-induced apoptosis. Molecular examinations demonstrated that apigenin at 400 μM significantly upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of Nrf2 and stimulated its nuclear translocation in ARPE-19 cells treated with or without t-BHP. Apigenin 400 μM also significantly elevated the expression of HO-1, NQO1, and GCLM at both mRNA and protein levels in the presence or absence of t-BHP. Furthermore, apigenin at 400 μM significantly increased the activities of SOD, CAT, GSH-PX, and T-AOC and reduced the levels of ROS and MDA in t-BHP-treated ARPE-19 cells. However, these effects of apigenin were all abolished by being transfected with Nrf2 siRNA. Collectively, our current data indicated that apigenin exerted potent antioxidant properties in ARPE-19 cells challenged with t-BHP, which were dependent on activation of Nrf2 signaling.