AIM:To investigate the neuroprotective effects of pigment epithelium-derived factor(PEDF) against oxidative stress-induced injury in differentiated retinal ganglion cell (RGC)-5 cells.METHODS:After differentiated with staurosporine, RGC-5 cells were divided into 4 groups. After every group cells were cultured for 24 hours, cell viability was determined by MTT assay; the apoptosis percent was tested by the Annexin V-FITC apoptosis kit.RESULTS:H₂O.2 may induce cell death of RGC-5 cells in a concentration-dependant manner. Exposure to 200μmol/L H₂O.2 clearly induced cell death in 40% of the cells within 24 hours. The apoptosis percent (36.60%±2.12%) after exposure to 200μmol/L H₂O₂ is higher than the control cells(6.03%±1.45%). PEDF at 100ng/mL suppressed the cell death induced by H₂O.2about 30% of the control cells. At the same concentration, PEDF also inhibited the cell apoptosis induced by H₂O₂(P<0.01).CONCLUSION:PEDF is able to effectively protect RGC against oxidative stressed injury and can be used as a very potential neuroprotective drug.