Effects of CSF1R/p-ERK1/2 signaling pathway on RF/6A cells under high glucose conditions

Abstract

Objective This study analyzed how high glucose affects CSF1R and p-ERK1/2 expression in RF/6A cells. Methods The cells were cultured as high glucose (HG) and normal control (C) groups, and CSF1R shRNA was introduced. Real time PCR was used to detect the expression of CSF1R and p-ERK1/2 mRNA. Western blot was used to detect the expression of CSF1R and p-ERK1/2 proteins. Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK-8) method was used to detect cell proliferation, while flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis in HREC. Results Real-time PCR showed significantly raised CSF1R mRNA expression in HG. CSF1R inhibition lowered HG + LV shCSF1R CSF1R mRNA levels. Western blotting revealed higher CSF1R and p-ERK1/2 protein expression in HG than in C. Their expression level dropped after CSF1R inhibition. The number of tube-forming cells was higher in HG than in C, which reduced after CSF1R suppression. Inhibiting CSF1R also decreased cell proliferation and raised apoptosis. Conclusion Overall, under high glucose, CSF1R and p-ERK1/2 were highly expressed, leading to reduced cellular activity, and CSF1R inhibition helped alleviate this effect.