Fig. 5

Autophagy-mediated signaling contributes to the protective effects of DEL-1 against ER stress-induced VEGF expression and injury in hRPE cells. A MDC staining and Western blot analysis of LC3 I/II and p62 in hRPE cells treated with DEL-1 (0–1 μg/mL) for 24 h. B Western blot analysis of phosphorylated eIF2α, CHOP, and VEGF in hRPE cells treated with tunicamycin (1 μg/mL), DEL-1 (1 μg/mL), and/or 3-MA (2 mM) for 24 h. C Cell viability and caspase 3 activity assay in hRPE cells treated with tunicamycin (1 μg/mL), DEL-1 (1 μg/mL), and/or 3-MA (2 mM) for 24 h. Means ± SDs were calculated from three independent experiments in in vitro models. *P < 0.05 compared with the control. ^!P < 0.05 compared with tunicamycin (1 or 2 μg/mL) treatment. ^#P < 0.05 compared with tunicamycin (1 or 2 μg/mL) and DEL-1 treatment