Heat Shock Pretreatment Decreases H₂O₂-induced Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells Apoptosis

[Objective] To study the effect of heat shock pretreatment on the express of HSP27 in retinal pigment epithelium cells and the effect on H₂O₂-induced apoptosis of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)cells.[Methods]The cultivate retinal pigment epithelium cells were divided into 4 groups: control group,H₂O₂ injury group, heat shock pretreatment group and H₂O₂ injury after heat shock pretreatment group;cells Group 2 and 4 are culture in 42℃ water for 20min,then set in the incubator, after diffent time(0h, 2h,4h,8h,12h,24h) to break off culture and used in experiment;cells Group 3 and 4 are exposed to 600μmol·L-1 H₂O₂ to induce retina pigment epithelium cells oxidation injury;The percentage of apoptotic cells were analyzed by Flow Cytometry;heat shock proteins were detected by immunochemistry.[Results] There are mild express of hsp27 in retina pigment epithelium cells. After heat shock pretreatment the express of hsp27 are enhancement in different degree. After heat shock pretreatment 2 hours the express begin to heighten, after 4h and 8h the express reach to the peak ,and after 12h and 24h the express were begin to decline, the apoptosis of Group 3 are obviosly ,the apoptosis of Group 4 are descent in different degree. Heat shock pretreatment can inhibit the H₂O₂-induced apoptosis of RPE cells obviously.[Conclusion] Heat shock pretreatment can induce the overexpression of hsp27 and against the apoptosis induced by H₂O₂. the main mechanism perhaps was via induce the overexpression of hsp27 to protect the RPE cells and inhibit the apoptosis.