High fat-induced the upregulation of LOX-1 in RF/6A cells under high glucose condition

Objective: To investigate the effect of ox-LDL on the expression of lectin-like receptor of ox-LDL (LOX-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in RF/6A cells under high-glucose condition. Methods: RF/6A cells were cultured in normal or high-glucose medium for two days. Furthermore, RF/6A cells were cultured in medium with high glucose and ox-LDL or normal medium with ox-LDL. The concentrations of ox-LDL were determined by initial screening based on migration and immunofluorescence. The expressions of LOX-1 and ICAM-1 were determined by western blot. Results: The maximal effect of glucose on RF/6A cells was observed with the concentration of 25 mmol/l for 48 h. The LOX-1 expression was upregulated under high glucose condition than normal glucose (p < 0.05). There were significant LOX-1 overexpression and blocked ICAM-1 activation in RF/6A cells under high-glucose condition (p < 0.05). In the normal medium with ox-LDL groups, LOX-1 expression was both increased than in the normal medium group (p < 0.05). In the high glucose medium with ox-LDL groups, the expression levels of LOX-1 and ICAM-1 were increased than the high glucose medium group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: A certain concentration of ox-LDL blocks high-glucose-induced retinal vascular endothelial injury by inhibiting the upregulation of ICAM-1 due to a high-glucose environment. Dyslipidemia may play an important role in the development of diabetic retinopathy, emphasizing the importance of active regulation of blood lipids in diabetic retinopathy therapy.