Andrographolide attenuates choroidal neovascularization by inhibiting the HIF-1α/VEGF signaling pathway.

Choroidal neovascularization (CNV), a characteristic of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), leads to severe vision loss amongst the elderly in the developed countries. Currently, the premier treatment for AMD is anti-VEGF therapy, which has limited efficacy, and is still controversial. Previous studies have showed that Andrographolide (Andro) had various biological effects, including anti-angiogenesis, anti-inflammation, and antioxidant. However, the effect of Andro on the formation of CNV has not been studied thus far. Here our results showed that Andro reduced the expression levels of HIF-1α and VEGF in the RF/6A cells chemical hypoxia model and the laser-induced CNV mouse model. Moreover, Andro inhibited the tube formation activity of RF/6A cells under hypoxic conditions. Furthermore, intraperitoneal injection of Andro reduced the severity of choroidal vascular leakage and the size of CNV in the laser-induced CNV mouse model, indicating that Andro attenuated the development of CNV by inhibiting the HIF-1α/VEGF signaling pathway. These results suggest that Andro could be a potential novel therapeutic agent for AMD.