AIM: To investigate the effects of Aflibercept on the K⁺ channel of retinal Müller cell membrane cultured in vitro.

METHODS: Human Müller cells were divided into 3 groups(control group, high glucose group and experimental group). The control group were cultured in conventional DMEM medium; the high glucose group were cultured in high glucose DMEM medium; the experimental group were cultured with high glucose DMEM medium and 100μmol/L Aflibercept, and the K⁺ concentration of the cells were detected by MQAE, and the cell survival were detected by MTT assay, the flow cytometry were used to detect apoptosis rates, Western blot analysis were used to detect the Müller cell caspase-3 protein levels.

RESULTS: The Müller cells were positive for glutamine synthetase(GS)after 48h of culture, and the purification degree were above 90%. The relative concentrations of K⁺ in the control group, high glucose group and experimental group were(2.14±0.44)%,(23.11±4.39)%,(5.20±0.92)%, and cell viability were(100.00±0.00)%, respectively(73.24±4.13)%,(85.22±5.33)%, the apoptosis rates were(5.03±1.91)%,(26.73±3.14)%,(16.63±2.73)%, and compared the differences between two groups were statistically significant(P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the level of caspase-3 protein in the high glucose group Müller cells were increased significantly(P<0.05); compared with the high glucose group Müller cells, the caspase-3 protein level in the experimental group Müller cells were decreased significantly(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Aflibercept can inhibit the K⁺ channel of retinal Müller cells in vitro, inhibit the apoptosis of Müller cells induced by high glucose, decrease the expression of caspase-3 protein, and promote cell proliferation.