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Zeng Y, Mo G, Wang Z, Wang X, Li K, Yang Y, Tian N. Rheumatoid arthritis and diabetic retinopathy: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e39001. [PMID: 39058858 PMCID: PMC11272287 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000039001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common and highly blinding disease. Many clinical studies have shown a causal relationship between Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and DR, but the results are contradictory. In addition, some clinical results and pathological inferences have certain paradoxes, and the influence of RA on the pathogenesis and development of DR Is unclear. Our research assessed the causal association between RA and the development of DR using a 2-sample Mendelian randomization method. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) relevant to the study were extracted and filtered from genome-wide association study (GWAS) data. A DR GWAS with a sample size of 190,594 and an RA GWAS with a sample size of 58,284 were obtained. Inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was used to analyze the results, and Mendelian randomization (MR)-Egger regression method and weighted median method were used to evaluate the robustness. Sensitivity analysis was performed using pleiotropy test, heterogeneity test, leave-one-out test to ensure that the results were unbiased. Confounding factors were eliminated to ensure robustness. A total of 83 related SNPs were screened. IVW method showed a positive correlation between RA and the increased relative risk of diabetic retinopathy (OR = 1.06, 95%CI: 1.04-1.23). The same trend was shown by MR-Egger regression method and weighted median method. Sensitivity analysis showed that there was no heterogeneity in SNPs, and the results were less likely to be affected by potential bias. After removing SNPs linked to confounders, the MR results remained significant and stable in direction. There is a positive causal association between rheumatoid arthritis and diabetic retinopathy. It is important to strengthen retina-related screening and prevention in diabetic patients with RA to reduce the risk of DR In RA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihuan Zeng
- The First Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Guangmeng Mo
- The First Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Zhenting Wang
- The First Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xiaoyv Wang
- The First Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Kunmeng Li
- The First Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Province, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yan Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Ni Tian
- The First Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Province, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Province, China
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Huang H, Zeng J, Kuang X, He F, Yan J, Li B, Liu W, Shen H. Transcriptional patterns of human retinal pigment epithelial cells under protracted high glucose. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:477. [PMID: 38573426 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09479-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is essential for retinal homeostasis. Comprehensively exploring the transcriptional patterns of diabetic human RPE promotes the understanding of diabetic retinopathy (DR). METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 4125 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened out from the human primary RPE cells subjected to prolonged high glucose (HG). The subsequent bioinformatics analysis is divided into 3 steps. In Step 1, 21 genes were revealed by intersecting the enriched genes from the KEGG, WIKI, and Reactome databases. In Step 2, WGCNA was applied and intersected with the DEGs. Further intersection based on the enrichments with the GO biological processes, GO cellular components, and GO molecular functions databases screened out 12 candidate genes. In Step 3, 13 genes were found to be simultaneously up-regulated in the DEGs and a GEO dataset involving human diabetic retinal tissues. VEGFA and ERN1 were the 2 starred genes finally screened out by overlapping the 3 Steps. CONCLUSION In this study, multiple genes were identified as crucial in the pathological process of RPE under protracted HG, providing potential candidates for future researches on DR. The current study highlights the importance of RPE in DR pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Huang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zhuzhou Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, 116 South Changjiang Road, Zhuzhou, 412000, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510000, China
| | - Jingshu Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510000, China
| | - Xielan Kuang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510000, China
- Biobank of Eye, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou, 510000, China
| | - Fan He
- Amass Ophthalmology, Guangzhou, 510000, China
| | - Jianjun Yan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zhuzhou Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, 116 South Changjiang Road, Zhuzhou, 412000, China
| | - Bowen Li
- Eye Center of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zhuzhou Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, 116 South Changjiang Road, Zhuzhou, 412000, China.
| | - Huangxuan Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510000, China.
- Biobank of Eye, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou, 510000, China.
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Zhao F, He Y, Zhao Z, He J, Huang H, Ai K, Liu L, Cai X. The Notch signaling-regulated angiogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis: pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic potentials. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1272133. [PMID: 38022508 PMCID: PMC10643158 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1272133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis plays a key role in the pathological process of inflammation and invasion of the synovium, and primarily drives the progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recent studies have demonstrated that the Notch signaling may represent a new therapeutic target of RA. Although the Notch signaling has been implicated in the M1 polarization of macrophages and the differentiation of lymphocytes, little is known about its role in angiogenesis in RA. In this review, we discourse the unique roles of stromal cells and adipokines in the angiogenic progression of RA, and investigate how epigenetic regulation of the Notch signaling influences angiogenesis in RA. We also discuss the interaction of the Notch-HIF signaling in RA's angiogenesis and the potential strategies targeting the Notch signaling to improve the treatment outcomes of RA. Taken together, we further suggest new insights into future research regarding the challenges in the therapeutic strategies of RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology of The First Hospital and Institute of Innovation and Applied Research in Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yini He
- Department of Rheumatology of The First Hospital and Institute of Innovation and Applied Research in Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhihao Zhao
- Institute (College) of Integrative Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Jiarong He
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hong Huang
- Department of Rheumatology of The First Hospital and Institute of Innovation and Applied Research in Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Kelong Ai
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Liang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiong Cai
- Department of Rheumatology of The First Hospital and Institute of Innovation and Applied Research in Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China
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Zhang Y, Zhu W, Wang J, Zuo Y. Identification of biomarkers associated with immune scores in diabetic retinopathy. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1228843. [PMID: 37867507 PMCID: PMC10585271 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1228843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Diabetic retinopathy (DR) causes irreversible visual impairment in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. Immunity played a crucial role in DR. Nevertheless, the triggering mechanism of DR was not yet thorough enough. Herein, we aim to identify the immune-associated genes as biomarkers associated with immune scores that can distinguish early DR from DM without DR. Methods In this study, total RNA of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples from 15 non-proliferative DR patients and 15 DM patients without DR were collected and the transcriptome sequencing data were extracted. Firstly, the target genes were obtained by intersecting the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were screened by "limma", and the module genes (related to immune scores), which were screened by "WGCNA". In order to screen for the crucial genes, three machine learning algorithms were implemented, and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to obtain the diagnostic genes. Moreover, the gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed to understand the function of diagnostic genes, and analysis of the proportions of immune cells and their association with diagnostic genes was performed to analyze the pathogenesis of DR. Furthermore, the regulatory network of TF-mRNA-miRNA was built to reveal the possible regulation of diagnostic genes. Finally, the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to verify the mRNA level of diagnostic genes. Results A total of three immune-associated diagnostic genes, namely, FAM209B, POM121L1P, and PTGES, were obtained, and their expression was increased in PBMC samples of DR, and qRT-PCR results confirmed these results. Moreover, the functions of these genes were associated with immune response. The expression of POM121L1P and PTGES was significantly negatively associated with naive B cells, and the expression of FAM209B was significantly negatively associated with immature dendritic cells. Moreover, ESR1 could regulate both FAM209B and PTGES. Conclusion This study identified three immune-associated diagnostic genes, FAM209B, POM121L1P, and PTGES, as biomarkers associated with immune scores in DR for the first time. This finding might proffer a novel perspective of the triggering mechanism of DR, and help to understand the role of immune-associated genes in the molecular mechanism of DR more deeply.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Weidong Zhu
- Department of Spinal Surgery, No. 215 Hospital of Shaanxi Nuclear Industry, Xianyang, China
| | - Jianming Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yi Zuo
- Department of Neurosurgery, No. 215 Hospital of Shaanxi Nuclear Industry, Xianyang, China
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Yuan L, Zhang L, Liu X, Li S, Zou J. Identification of differential immune cells and related diagnostic genes in patients with diabetic retinopathy. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e35331. [PMID: 37773794 PMCID: PMC10545100 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000035331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a frequent microvascular abnormality associated with diabetes mellitus. The loss of retinal immunity is an important underlying mechanism of the DR pathogenesis, including the change in retinal immunosuppressive characteristics and the blood-retinal barrier disturbances. Therefore, this investigation screens immune-associated biomarkers in the retina of DR patients. METHODS In this investigation, the differential expression genes (DEGs) were acquired from Gene Expression Omnibus data GSE102485. The relative expression of 22 immune cell types in each sample was calculated by CIBERSORT analysis based on gene expression profile. The core module closely associated with immune infiltration was also screened by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). The overlapping DEGs and module genes were the differentially expressed immune-related genes (DEIRGs). With the help of the genes/proteins (STRING) database and MCODE plug-in, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network hub genes were screened. Furthermore, the miRNA-hub genes and transcription factor (TF)-hub gene regulatory network were used to explain the possible signal pathways in DR. The hub genes verification was carried out by Polymerase Chain Reaction. Lastly, select CSF1R and its related pathway factor p-ERK1/2 to verify their expression in RF/6A under normal and high glucose environments. RESULTS A total of 3583 principle DEGs, that enriched immune-related GO terms and infection-related pathways were identified. CIBERSORT analysis showed that naive B cells, M2 macrophages, eosinophils, and neutrophil infiltration were significantly different. After intersecting 3583 DEGs, 168 DEIRGs and 181 module genes were identified. Furthermore, 15 hub genes, TYROBP, FCGR3A, CD163, FCGR2A, PTPRC, TLR2, CD14, VSIG4, HCK, CSF1R, LILRB2, ITGAM, CTSS, CD86, and LY86, were identified via PPI network. The identified hub genes were up-regulated in DR and showed a high DR diagnostic value. Regulatory networks of the miRNA- and TF-hub genes can help understand the etiology of disease at the genetic level and optimize treatment strategy. CD14, VSIG4, HCK, and CSF1R were verified to be highly expressed in the vitreous of patients with DR. n RF/6A, CSF1R, and p-ERK1/2 were significantly overexpressed under high glucose conditions, with a statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION This investigation identified 15 genes (TYROBP, FCGR3A, CD163, FCGR2A, PTPRC, TLR2, CD14, VSIG4, HCK, CSF1R, LILRB2, ITGAM, CTSS, CD86, and LY86) as hub DR genes, which may serve as a new potential point for the diagnosis and treatment of DR. CSF1R/p-ERK1/2 signaling may promotes the development of retinal neovascularization.
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Affiliation(s)
- LinHui Yuan
- Department of Ophthalmology, the Third People’s Hospital Affiliated to Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
- Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - LiJun Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, the Third People’s Hospital Affiliated to Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
- Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Xin Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, the Third People’s Hospital Affiliated to Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
- Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Sheng Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, the Third People’s Hospital Affiliated to Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
- Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - JiXin Zou
- Department of Ophthalmology, the Third People’s Hospital Affiliated to Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
- Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
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Otsuka T, Masuda T, Takahashi Y, Suzuki A, Uemura A, Arakawa R, Okabe T, Naito A. Effect of triamcinolone acetonide on retinal inflammation and angiogenesis induced by pericyte depletion in mouse. J Pharmacol Sci 2023; 151:28-36. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jphs.2022.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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