Tannic acid suppresses ultraviolet B-induced inflammatory signaling and complement factor B on human retinal pigment epithelial cells

Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation may cause the inflammation of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells and play a role in development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The activation of the complement factor B (CFB) gene has been shown to be involved in formation of AMD. Here our results revealed that UVB induces IL-6/STAT3 signaling activation and the UVB-induced STAT3 is able to regulate the CFB expression in ARPE-19 cells. Tannic acid (TA) is a kind of water-soluble polyphenol and may have anti-inflammation effects. We also found that TA attenuates the UVB-induced IL-6 protein production, the STAT3 phosphorylation and the CFB expression. Taken together, these findings suggest UVB-induced inflammation of RPE can be mediated through the IL-6/STAT3/CFB pathway, and TA has a protected effect via the inhibition to the inflammatory response.