目的：研究水蛭提取液对视网膜母细胞瘤细胞(WERI-RB-1细胞)表达血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)的影响及相关分子机制。

方法：将体外培养的WERI-RB-1细胞分为对照组、0.04U/mL水蛭提取液组、0.08U/mL水蛭提取液组，对照组采用完全培养基培养48h，水蛭提取液组分别采用含0.04、0.08U/mL含药培养基培养48h。采用ELISA法检测各组细胞培养基上清液中VEGF表达水平； 采用RT-PCR法检测各组细胞缺氧诱导因子-1a(HIF-1a)和基质金属蛋白酶-9(MMP-9)mRNA相对表达水平； 采用Western Blot法检测各组细胞HIF-1a、MMP-9、磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶(PI3K)、人磷酸化蛋白激酶(p-AKT)相对表达水平。

结果：与对照组比较，水蛭提取液组细胞培养基上清液中VEGF表达均降低(P<0.05)，0.04、0.08U/mL水蛭提取液对VEGF表达抑制率分别为32.43%、38.92%。与对照组比较，水蛭提取液组细胞HIF-1a和MMP-9 mRNA相对表达水平均明显降低(P<0.05)，0.04、0.08U/mL水蛭提取液对HIF-1a mRNA表达抑制率分别为27.64%、24.75%，对MMP-9 mRNA表达抑制率分别为43.97%、51.48%。与对照组比较，水蛭提取液组细胞HIF-1a、MMP-9、PI3K、p-AKT蛋白相对表达水平均明显降低(P<0.05)，0.04、0.08U/mL水蛭提取液对HIF-1a蛋白表达抑制率分别为55.81%、43.85%，对MMP-9蛋白表达抑制率分别为39.49%、47.23%，对PI3K蛋白表达抑制率分别为33.27%、29.83%，对p-AKT蛋白表达抑制率分别为52.07%、30.21%。

结论：水蛭提取液可能通过VEGF/PI3K/AKT通路及HIF-1a、MMP-9因子抑制WERI-RB-1细胞VEGF的表达。

METHODS: WERI-RB-1 cells cultured in vitro were divided into control group, 0.04U/mL leech extract group and 0.08U/mL leech extract group. The control group was cultured with complete medium for 48h, and the leech extract group was cultured with 0.04 and 0.08U/mL drug-containing medium for 48h, respectively. The expression level of VEGF in conditioned medium of cell culture was detected by ELISA. The mRNA levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1a(HIF-1a)and matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9)were detected by RT-PCR. The expression levels of HIF-1a, MMP-9, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)and human phosphorylated AKT(p-AKT)were detected by Western Blot.

RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the expression of VEGF in the conditioned medium with the concentration of 0.04U/ mL and 0.08U/mL of leech extract was decreased(P<0.05), and the inhibition rate was 32.43% and 38.92%, respectively. The expression levels of HIF-1a and MMP-9 mRNA were significantly decreased(P<0.05). The inhibition rates of HIF-1a mRNA expression of the two leech extracts were 27.64% and 24.75%, respectively. The inhibition rate of MMP-9 mRNA expression was 43.97% and 51.48%, respectively. The protein expression levels of HIF-1a, MMP-9, PI3K and p-AKT were significantly decreased compared with the control group(P<0.05). The inhibition rates of 0.04 and 0.08U/mL leech extracts on the protein expression of HIF-1a, MMP-9, PI3K and p-AKT were 55.81% and 43.85%, 39.49% and 47.23%, 33.27% and 29.83%, 52.07% and 30.21%, respectively.

CONCLUSION:Leech extract may inhibit the expression of VEGF in WERI-RB-1 cells via the VEGF/PI3K/AKT pathway or HIF-1a and MMP-9 factors.