Impact of umbelliprenin-containing niosome nanoparticles on VEGF-A and CTGF genes expression in retinal pigment epithelium cells
Authors:   Stem Cell Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan 4934174516, Iran; Department of Medical Genetics, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan 4934174516, Iran, Dastaviz Farzad , Khosravi Teymoor ,   Student Research Committee, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan 4934174516, Iran, Khosravi Ayyoob ,   Stem Cell Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan 4934174516, Iran; Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Medical Technologies, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan 4934174516, Iran, Arabi Mehdi Sheikh ,   Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Technologies, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan 4934174516, Iran, Bagheri Abouzar ,   Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari 4847191628, Iran, Rashidi Mohsen ,   Department Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari 4847191628, Iran, Oladnabi Morteza ,   Stem Cell Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan 4934174516, Iran; Department of Medical Genetics, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan 4934174516, Iran; Gorgan Congenital Malformations Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan 4934174516, Iran
Published: December 2023

AIM: To investigate the impact of niosome nanoparticles carrying umbelliprenin (UMB), an anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory plant compound, on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) genes in a human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-like retina-derived cell line.
METHODS: UMB-containing niosomes were created, optimized, and characterized. RPE-like cells were treated with free UMB and UMB-containing niosomes. The IC50 values of the treatments were determined using an MTT assay. Gene expression of VEGF-A and CTGF was evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction after RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis. Niosomes' characteristics, including drug entrapment efficiency, size, dispersion index, and zeta potential were assessed. Free UMB had an IC50 of 96.2 μg/mL, while UMB-containing niosomes had an IC50 of 25 μg/mL.
RESULTS: Treatment with UMB-containing niosomes and free UMB resulted in a significant reduction in VEGF-A expression compared to control cells (P=0.001). Additionally, UMB-containing niosomes demonstrated a significant reduction in CTGF expression compared to control cells (P=0.05). However, there was no significant reduction in the expression of both genes in cells treated with free UMB.
CONCLUSION: Both free UMB and niosome-encapsulated UMB inhibits VEGF-A and CTGF genes expression. However, the latter demonstrates significantly greater efficacy, potentially due to the lower UMB dosage and gradual delivery. These findings have implications for anti-angiogenesis therapeutic approaches targeting age-related macular degeneration.