Arpe 19 cells

ARPE-19 cells (Procell Life Science & Technology Co., Ltd., certified by STR) were maintained in DMEM/F-12 supplemented with 10% FBS, streptomycin (100 mg/ml) and penicillin (100 U/ml), at 37°C with 5% CO₂. All treatments were performed when the cells reached ~80% confluence.

ARPE-19 cells are purchased from procell Life Technology Co., Ltd. (Wuhan, China). The complete culture medium for ARPE-19 cells consisted of Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM)/F-12 (volumetric ratio of 1:1; HyClone, Logan, UT, USA) and 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS; HyClone). ARPE-19 cells were cultured at 37°C in humidified air with 5% CO2. For treatment, ARPE-19 cells were grown in complete culture medium until approximately 75% confluence. Subsequently, the culture medium was replaced with FBS-free DMEM/F-12 for 24 h before switching to high glucose (60 mM D-glucose) or normal glucose (NG) (5.5 mM D-glucose) conditions. The cell culture medium was not renewed during the 48 h high glucose and normal glucose treatment. When the cells were routinely cultured, the medium was renewed every other day.