AIM:To investigate the effect of bone morphogenetic protein 6(BMP-6)on cellular morphology, proliferation and apoptosis of retinal pigment epithelial cells(ARPE-19)incubated in hydrogen peroxide(H₂O₂).

METHODS:ARPE-19 cells were cultured conventionally and divided into four groups. One group was untreated as blank group, the other three groups were incubated in 75μm/L H₂O₂, 150ng/mLBMP-6 or75μm/L H₂O₂+150ng/mL BMP-6. All the groups were incubated for 3h, 6h, 9h and 12h. We tested the cell viabilitity by MTT. We used flow cytometry to test the cell cycle and cell apoptosis.

RESULTS:H₂O₂ significantly decreased the cell activity in time-dependent manner. The activity of cells with BMP-6+H₂O₂ was higher H₂O₂ group, and the differences between the two groups at 3h and 6h were significant(P<0.05). The observation on cellular morphology showed that the cell number decreased and the cell detachment after 6h incubated with H₂O₂, while the cells with BMP-6 were less cell detachment and apoptosis.

CONCLUSION:BMP-6 has protective effects on RPE cells from oxidative stress in certain extent.