Green Tea Is Neuroprotective in Diabetic Retinopathy

RESULTS. In diabetic rats, there was an increase in the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), oxidative retinal markers, and glutamine synthetase levels. In addition, there was a decrease in occludin and glutamate transporter and receptor. Diabetic SHR also demonstrated blood-retinal barrier breakdown and impaired electroretinography results. M¨ cells exposed to high-glucose medium produced higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutamine synthetase but reduced levels of glutathione, glutamate transporter, and glutamate receptor. Similarly, ARPE-19 cells exhibited increased ROS production accompanied by decreased expression of claudin-1 and glutamate transporter. Treatment with GT fully restored all the above-mentioned alterations in diabetic animals as well as in retinal cells. CONCLUSIONS. GT protected the retina against glutamate toxicity via an antioxidant mechanism. These findings reveal a novel mechanism by which GT protects the retina against neurodegeneration in disorders such as diabetic retinopathy. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2013;54:1325‐1336) DOI:10.1167/ iovs.12-10647