Figure 8. Curcumin attenuated hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced expression of angiotensin II type 1 receptor, nuclear factor-kappa B, and vascular endothelial growth factor at the mRNA (A) and protein (B) levels in ARPE-19 cells. The mRNA and protein measurements were done with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting, respectively. Cells were treated with curcumin and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) for 6 and 18 h, respectively. In the curc+H₂O₂ group, cells were treated with 6 h followed by insult with 200 μM H₂O₂ for 18 h; cells were washed with fresh media in-between the curcumin and H₂O₂ treatments. Representative western blots of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT₁R), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and actin, and densitometric analysis of the protein levels are shown in the upper and lower panels, respectively (B). Data represent mean±SEM from three (for western) or four (for qRT-PCR) separate samples. *p<0.05 versus control, **p<0.001 versus control, #p<0.001 versus H₂O₂.