目的:研究缺氧条件下体外培养人视网膜色素上皮(retinal pigment epithelium, RPE)细胞中信号转导与转录激活因子3(signal transducer and activator of transcription 3,STAT3)的活性状态。方法:将培养的人RPE细胞置于含10mL/L O2,50mL/L CO2和940mL/L N2的培养箱内建立缺氧模型。于缺氧后1,3,6,12和24h,用激光共聚焦显微镜观察STAT3蛋白在RPE细胞内的定位,Western blot检测STAT3蛋白的磷酸化水平。结果:常氧状态下,STAT3蛋白荧光主要分布于RPE细胞胞质内。缺氧后,细胞质内绿色荧光强度减弱,细胞核荧光强度明显增强。随缺氧时间的延长,STAT3蛋白的磷酸化水平逐渐增高,至12h表达最强,24h开始下降。结论:缺氧后体外培养人RPE细胞内STAT3蛋白磷酸化水平增高,STAT3蛋白活化,由胞质向胞核内转位。
AIM: To investigate the activation status of signal transduction and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) in human retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE cells) in vitro under hypoxic conditions. METHODS. To set up the hypoxia model, human RPE cells were cultured in chamber containing 10mL/L O2, 50mL/L CO2 and 940mL/L N2. The location of STAT3 in RPE cells was observed with laser scanning confocal microscope at 1,3,6,12,24 hours after hypoxia. Western blot analysis was performed to detect the expression of phosphorylated STAT3. RESULTS: The fluorescence of STAT3 protein mainly distributed in the cytoplasm of cultured RPE cells under normoxic conditions. There was a decrease in green fluorescence intensity within the cytoplasm while the fluorescence intensity in the nucleus increased under hypoxic conditions. The expression of phosphorylated STAT3 was enhanced gradually and peaked at 12 hours in the cultured RPE cells treated with hypoxia. CONCLUSION: The expression of phosphorylated STAT3 increased in human RPE cells in vitro under hypoxic conditions, and STAT3 was activated and translocated from the cytoplasm to the nucleus.