Calycosin Alleviates Oxidative Stress and Pyroptosis Induced by High Glucose in Human Retinal Capillary Endothelial Cells Induced by High Glucose

Calycosin is an isoflavone isolated from the roots of Astragalus membranaceus. Due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, it has been extensively used in traditional Chinese medicine formulations. Herein, we have evaluated the mechanism of action of calycosin using high glucose induced HRCEC cells as a model. The observed effects of calycosin include alleviation of oxidative stress induced by high glucose through promotion of SOD, GSH-Px and inhibition of ROS expression. Moreover, calycosin relieved HG-induced inflammation and pyroptosis by upregulating IL-1β, IL-18 and downregulating NLRP3, ASC, and cleaving caspase-1/procaspase-1. Calycosin also inhibited HMGB1/NF-κB pathway activation by promoting p-P65/P65, p-IκBα, HMGB1 and decreasing IκBα. All of these results support the notion that calycosin alleviates oxidative stress and pyroptosis of HRCEC cells induced by high glucose by inhibiting activation of the HMGB1/NF-κB pathway.