Excessive retinol intake exacerbates choroidal neovascularization through upregulated vascular endothelial growth factor in retinal pigment epithelium in mice

As a part of the visual cycle, all-trans-retinol (all-trans-ROL), the major form of vitamin A in circulating blood, is transported to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). All-trans-ROL is essential for normal retina function. However, recent researches have shown that excessive retinol intake can cause increase of all-trans-retinal. This can lead to the accumulation of lipofuscin, which is important in the pathogenesis of retina degeneration disease, such as dry type age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Since there are few reports regarding the involvement of all-trans-ROL in exudative AMD, we investigated the effects of all-trans-ROL in vitro and in vivo. We evaluated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in ARPE-19 cells and THP-1 cells after all-trans-ROL treatment using ELISA and real-time RT-PCR. In-vitro tube formation assay was performed with HUVEC cells using the conditioned medium (CM) obtained from ARPE-19 cells treated with all-trans-ROL. Transcriptional activity of retinoic acid receptor (RAR) was evaluated using luciferase assay. In mice, VEGF expressions were investigated in the retina and RPE/choroid after three weeks of excessive oral retinol intake. Laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) models were evaluated after they were fed with various doses of retinol. VEGF mRNA expression and VEGF production were significantly increased in all-trans-ROL treated ARPE-19 cells, which were inhibited by an RAR antagonist LE540. In contrast, there were no significant changes in VEGF production in THP-1 cells. Transcriptional activity of RAR was upregulated by all-trans-ROL treatment in ARPE-19 cells. The CM, obtained from ARPE-19 cells treated with all-trans-ROL, induced more capillary-like tube formation than cells treated with control vehicles. In vivo, the high retinol diet group has increased VEGF expression in the RPE/choroid and larger lesion size was induced. Our results suggest that all-trans-ROL is a pro-angiogenic factor. Excessive retinoid intake may be a potential risk factor for exudative AMD. •VEGF expression was upregulated in ARPE-19 cells treated with all-trans-ROL.•Conditioned medium obtained from ARPE-19 cells treated with all-trans-ROL increased HUVEC tube formation.•All-trans-ROL might increase VEGF expression via RAR.•VEGF expression in the RPE/choroid is increased and larger CNV lesions are induced with excessive retinol intake in mice.•All-trans-ROL is a pro-angiogenic factor for exudative AMD.