ObjectiveTo address the effect and mechanism of interleukin 17 (IL-17) on the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of human retinal vascular endothelial cells (HREC). MethodsIL-17 receptor (IL-17R) mRNA and protein expression in human retinal vascular endothelial cells (HREC) were quantified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot. Cell proliferation of HREC was examined using CCK-8 assay in the presence of different concentrations of IL-17. Cell migration of HREC was detected using wound scratch assay. Flow cytometry was used to test the effect of IL-17 on the apoptosis of HREC. The effects of IL-17 on HREC expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), Caspase-3 and thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) were quantified by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The effect of IL-17 on HREC expression of Caspase-3 was examined using Western blot. ResultsIL-17 receptor (IL-17R) expressed in HREC as quantified by RT-PCR and Western blot. The proliferation of HREC in the presence of IL-17 was promoted in a dosage-dependent manner (t=-3.235, -6.276;P=0.032, 0.000). Wound scratch assay showed a significant increase in the migrated distance of HREC with IL-17 stimulation under the concentration of 100μg/L(t=-3.551, -2.849; P=0.006, 0.019), 200μg/L(t=-10.347, -4.519; P=0.000, 0.001) and 500μg/L (t=-3.541, -2.607; P=0.008, 0.036). The intervention of 200μg/L IL-17 can effectively inhibit the apoptosis of HREC, compared with the control group using flow cytometry (t=5.682, P=0.047). RT-PCR results showed that IL-17 can promote the expression of bFGF and inhibit the expression of Caspase-3 and TSP-1. Western blot result also showed that IL-17 can suppress the protein expression of Caspase-3. ConclusionThe mechanism of IL-17 promoting proliferation, migration but suppress apoptosis of HREC may via regulating the expression of bFGF and Caspase-3.