Objective To evaluate the effects of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factorTNF-alpha; and interleukins (IL-6 and IL-8), to the expression of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) in human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)cells. Method Cultured primary human RPE cells were treated with 20，2，0.2 , and 0.02 ng/ml of TNF-alpha;, IL-6 and IL-8 separately. The levels of PEDF expression were determined by Western blot of the supernant after 6，12，24 and 48 hours of culture. Results PEDF secretion of RPE cells was inhibited by TNF-alpha;, IL-6 and IL-8 in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. Compared with the controls, the expression of PEDF decreased significantly in 0.02 ng/ml and 6 hours group (F＝7.14, P＜0.05）, 2.00 ng/ml and 48 hours group（F=14.05，P＜0.01) , and 20.00 ng/ml and 24 hours group（F=11.53，P＜0.01). TNF-alpha; was the most strength inhibitor (F＝14,P＜0.01）.Conclusion TNF-alpha;, IL-6, and IL-8 could suppress the expression of PEDF in the cultured human RPE cells.
