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Li J, Chen K, Li X, Zhang X, Zhang L, Yang Q, Xia Y, Xie C, Wang X, Tong J, Shen Y. Mechanistic insights into the alterations and regulation of the AKT signaling pathway in diabetic retinopathy. Cell Death Discov 2023; 9:418. [PMID: 37978169 PMCID: PMC10656479 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01717-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR), diabetes-related hyperglycemia directly inhibits the AKT signaling pathway by increasing oxidative stress or inhibiting growth factor expression, which leads to retinal cell apoptosis, nerve proliferation and fundus microvascular disease. However, due to compensatory vascular hyperplasia in the late stage of DR, the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/AKT cascade is activated, resulting in opposite levels of AKT regulation compared with the early stage. Studies have shown that many factors, including insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), VEGF and others, can regulate the AKT pathway. Disruption of the insulin pathway decreases AKT activation. IGF-1 downregulation decreases the activation of AKT in DR, which abrogates the neuroprotective effect, upregulates VEGF expression and thus induces neovascularization. Although inhibiting VEGF is the main treatment for neovascularization in DR, excessive inhibition may lead to apoptosis in inner retinal neurons. AKT pathway substrates, including mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), forkhead box O (FOXO), glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), are a research focus. mTOR inhibitors can delay or prevent retinal microangiopathy, whereas low mTOR activity can decrease retinal protein synthesis. Inactivated AKT fails to inhibit FOXO and thus causes apoptosis. The GSK-3/Nrf2 cascade regulates oxidation and inflammation in DR. NF-κB is activated in diabetic retinas and is involved in inflammation and apoptosis. Many pathways or vital activities, such as the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways, interact with the AKT pathway to influence DR development. Numerous regulatory methods can simultaneously impact the AKT pathway and other pathways, and it is essential to consider both the connections and interactions between these pathways. In this review, we summarize changes in the AKT signaling pathway in DR and targeted drugs based on these potential sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayuan Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Kuangqi Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xuhong Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Liyue Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qianjie Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yutong Xia
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chen Xie
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiawei Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianping Tong
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Ye Shen
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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Biggar KK, Storey KB. New Approaches to Comparative and Animal Stress Biology Research in the Post-genomic Era: A Contextual Overview. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2014; 11:138-46. [PMID: 25408848 PMCID: PMC4232569 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2014.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2014] [Revised: 09/07/2014] [Accepted: 09/11/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Although much is known about the physiological responses of many environmental stresses in tolerant animals, studies evaluating the regulation of stress-induced mechanisms that regulate the transitions to and from this state are beginning to explore new and fascinating areas of molecular research. Current findings have developed a general, but refined, view of the important molecular pathways contributing to stress-survival. However, studies utilizing newly developed technologies that broadly focus on genomic and proteomic screening are beginning to identify many new targets for future study. This minireview will provide a contextual overview on the use of DNA/RNA sequencing, microRNA annotation and prediction software, protein structure and function prediction tools, as well as methods of high-throughput protein expression analysis. We will also use select examples to highlight the existing use of these technologies in stress biology research. Such tools can be used in comparative stress biology in the characterization of animal responses to environmental challenges. Although there are many areas of study left to be explored, research in comparative stress biology will always be continuing as new technologies allow the further analysis of cell function, and new paradigms in gene regulation and regulatory molecules (such as microRNAs) are continuing to be discovered. Building upon the findings of past research, while utilizing new technologies in the appropriate manner, future studies can be carried out in new and exciting areas still unexplored. Proper use of rapidly developing technologies will help to create a complete understanding of the animal stress response and survival mechanisms utilized by many diverse organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kenneth B. Storey
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
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Detection and quantification of lysine acetyl-alteration using antibody microarray. Bioanalysis 2014; 5:2469-80. [PMID: 24138621 DOI: 10.4155/bio.13.191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lysine acetylation is a reversible and dynamic post-translational modification on proteins, and plays an important role in diverse biological processes. Technological limitations have so far prevented comparative quantification of lysine acetylation in different samples. RESULTS We developed a method to efficiently study lysine acetylation on individual proteins from complex mixtures, using antibody microarrays to capture individual proteins followed by detection with lysine acetyl antibody. By profiling both protein and acetylation variations in multiple samples using this microarray, we found cancer-associated lysine acetylation alteration on VEGF in the serum of hepatocellular carcinoma patients. CONCLUSION Microarrays of lysine acetylation are highly effective for detecting acetylation, and should be useful in identifying and validating disease-associated acetylation alterations as biomarkers under both normal and pathological circumstances.
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Xiong F, Du X, Hu J, Li T, Du S, Wu Q. Altered retinal microRNA expression profiles in early diabetic retinopathy: an in silico analysis. Curr Eye Res 2014; 39:720-9. [PMID: 24502381 DOI: 10.3109/02713683.2013.872280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE MicroRNAs (miRNAs) - as negative regulators of target genes - are associated with various human diseases, but their precise role(s) in diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to elucidate the involvement of miRNAs in early DR using in silico analysis to explore their gene expression patterns. METHODS We used the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat to investigate the roles of miRNAs in early DR. Retinal miRNA expression profiles from diabetic versus healthy control rats were examined by miRNA array analysis. Based on several bioinformatic systems, specifically, gene ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways, we identified signatures of the potential pathological processes, gene functions, and signaling pathways that are influenced by dysregulated miRNAs. We used quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to validate six (i.e. those with significant changes in expression levels) of the 17 miRNAs that were detected in the miRNA array. We also describe the significant role of the miRNA-gene network, which is based on the interactions between miRNAs and target genes. RESULTS GO analysis of the 17 miRNAs detected in the miRNA array analysis revealed the most prevalent miRNAs to be those related to biological processes, olfactory bulb development and axonogenesis. These miRNAs also exert significant influence on additional pathways, including the mitogen-activated protein and calcium signaling pathways. Six of the seventeen miRNAs were chosen for qRT-PCR validation. With the exception of a slight difference in miRNA-350, our results are in close agreement with the differential expressions detected by array analysis. CONCLUSIONS This study, which describes miRNA expression during the early developmental phases of DR, revealed extensive miRNA interactions. Based on both their target genes and signaling pathways, we suggest that miRNAs perform critical regulatory functions during the early stages of DR evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fen Xiong
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University , Shanghai , China
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Zhang H, Pelech S. Using protein microarrays to study phosphorylation-mediated signal transduction. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2012; 23:872-82. [DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2012.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2012] [Revised: 05/30/2012] [Accepted: 05/30/2012] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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