AIM: To investigate the effect of aflibercept on the expression of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3(STAT3)in rat retinal Müller cells.

METHODS: The rat retinal Müller cells treated with different concentrations of Aflibercept 100 μL(diluted concentrations of 400, 200, 100 pg/mL, respectively). MTT assay were used to detect cell proliferation, flow cytometry. Apoptosis were detected by the instrument, cell invasion were detected by transwell chamber method, and protein(AKT, STAT3, GAPDH)expression were detected by Western-blot method.

RESULTS: The proliferation activity of Müller cells were decreased with the increased of aflibercept concentration, and compared the difference were statistically significant(P<0.05). After treatment for 48h, the apoptotic rate of Müller cells were gradually increased with the increased of aflibercept concentration, and the invasion and penetration index of Müller cells gradually were decreased, and compared the difference were statistically significant(P<0.05). After 48 h of transfection, the relative expression of AKT protein in Müller cells were not change significantly with the increased of Aflibercept concentration(P>0.05), and the relative expression of STAT3 protein decreased gradually, and compared the difference were statistically significant(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Aflibercept can inhibit the expression of STAT3 protein in rat retinal Müller cells, thereby inhibit cell proliferation and invasion and promote apoptosis.