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Chen Y, Schlotterer A, Kurowski L, Li L, Dannehl M, Hammes HP, Lin J. miRNA-124 Prevents Rat Diabetic Retinopathy by Inhibiting the Microglial Inflammatory Response. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032291. [PMID: 36768614 PMCID: PMC9917205 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is characterized by vasoregression and glial activation. miRNA-124 (miR-124) reduces retinal microglial activation and alleviates vasoregression in a neurodegenerative rat model. Our aim was to determine whether miR-124 affects vascular and neural damage in the early diabetic retina. Diabetes was induced in 8-week-old Wistar rats by streptozotocin (STZ) injection. At 16 and 20 weeks, the diabetic rats were intravitreally injected with miR-124 mimic, and retinae were analyzed at 24 weeks. Microvascular damage was identified by evaluating pericyte loss and acellular capillary (AC) formation. Müller glial activation was assessed by glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunofluorescence staining. Microglial activation was determined by immunofluorescent staining of ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) in whole mount retinae. The neuroretinal function was assessed by electroretinography. The expression of inflammation-associated genes was evaluated by qRT-PCR. A wound healing assay was performed to quantitate the mobility of microglial cells. The results showed that miR-124 treatment alleviated diabetic vasoregression by reducing AC formation and pericyte loss. miR-124 blunted Müller glial- and microglial activation in diabetic retinae and ameliorated neuroretinal function. The retinal expression of inflammatory factors including Tnf-α, Il-1β, Cd74, Ccl2, Ccl3, Vcam1, Tgf-β1, Arg1, and Il-10 was reduced by miR-124 administration. The elevated mobility of microglia upon high glucose exposure was normalized by miR-124. The expression of the transcription factor PU.1 and lipid raft protein Flot1 was downregulated by miR-124. In rat DR, miR-124 prevents vasoregression and glial activation, improves neuroretinal function, and modulates microglial activation and inflammatory responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Chen
- 5th Medical Department, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Andrea Schlotterer
- 5th Medical Department, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Luke Kurowski
- 5th Medical Department, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Lin Li
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Marcus Dannehl
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Hans-Peter Hammes
- 5th Medical Department, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Jihong Lin
- 5th Medical Department, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-621-383-3774
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Chen Y, Lin J, Schlotterer A, Kurowski L, Hoffmann S, Hammad S, Dooley S, Buchholz M, Hu J, Fleming I, Hammes HP. MicroRNA-124 Alleviates Retinal Vasoregression via Regulating Microglial Polarization. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222011068. [PMID: 34681723 PMCID: PMC8538759 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222011068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglial activation is implicated in retinal vasoregression of the neurodegenerative ciliopathy-associated disease rat model (i.e., the polycystic kidney disease (PKD) model). microRNA can regulate microglial activation and vascular function, but the effect of microRNA-124 (miR-124) on retinal vasoregression remains unclear. Transgenic PKD and wild-type Sprague Dawley (SD) rats received miR-124 at 8 and 10 weeks of age intravitreally. Retinal glia activation was assessed by immunofluorescent staining and in situ hybridization. Vasoregression and neuroretinal function were evaluated by quantitative retinal morphometry and electroretinography (ERG), respectively. Microglial polarization was determined by immunocytochemistry and qRT-PCR. Microglial motility was examined via transwell migration assays, wound healing assays, and single-cell tracking. Our data showed that miR-124 inhibited glial activation and improved vasoregession, as evidenced by the reduced pericyte loss and decreased acellular capillary formation. In addition, miR-124 improved neuroretinal function. miR-124 shifted microglial polarization in the PKD retina from the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype to the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype by suppressing TNF-α, IL-1β, CCL2, CCL3, MHC-II, and IFN-γ and upregulating Arg1 and IL-10. miR-124 also decreased microglial motility in the migration assays. The transcriptional factor of C/EBP-α-PU.1 signaling, suppressed by miR-124 both in vivo (PKD retina) and in vitro (microglial cells), could serve as a key regulator in microglial activation and polarization. Our data illustrate that miR-124 regulates microglial activation and polarization. miR-124 inhibits pericyte loss and thereby alleviates vasoregression and ameliorates neurovascular function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Chen
- 5th Medical Department, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany; (Y.C.); (J.L.); (A.S.); (L.K.)
| | - Jihong Lin
- 5th Medical Department, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany; (Y.C.); (J.L.); (A.S.); (L.K.)
| | - Andrea Schlotterer
- 5th Medical Department, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany; (Y.C.); (J.L.); (A.S.); (L.K.)
| | - Luke Kurowski
- 5th Medical Department, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany; (Y.C.); (J.L.); (A.S.); (L.K.)
| | - Sigrid Hoffmann
- Center of Medical Research, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany;
| | - Seddik Hammad
- Molecular Hepatology Section, Department of Medicine II, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany; (S.H.); (S.D.)
| | - Steven Dooley
- Molecular Hepatology Section, Department of Medicine II, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany; (S.H.); (S.D.)
| | - Malte Buchholz
- Department of Gastroenterology and Endocrinology, University Hospital, Philipps-University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 3, D-35043 Marburg, Germany;
| | - Jiong Hu
- Institute for Vascular Signalling, Center for Molecular Medicine, Goethe University, D-60590 Frankfurt, Germany; (J.H.); (I.F.)
| | - Ingrid Fleming
- Institute for Vascular Signalling, Center for Molecular Medicine, Goethe University, D-60590 Frankfurt, Germany; (J.H.); (I.F.)
| | - Hans-Peter Hammes
- 5th Medical Department, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany; (Y.C.); (J.L.); (A.S.); (L.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-621-383-2663
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Riemann S, Kolibabka M, Busch S, Lin J, Hoffmann S, Gretz N, Feng Y, Wohlfart P, Hammes HP. Microglial Activation Is Associated With Vasoprotection in a Rat Model of Inflammatory Retinal Vasoregression. Front Physiol 2021; 12:660164. [PMID: 33981252 PMCID: PMC8107726 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.660164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascular dysfunction and vasoregression are hallmarks of a variety of inflammatory central nervous system disorders and inflammation-related retinal diseases like diabetic retinopathy. Activation of microglia and the humoral innate immune system are contributing factors. Anti-inflammatory approaches have been proposed as therapies for neurovascular diseases, which include the modulation of microglial activation. The present study aimed at investigating the effects of microglial activation by clodronate-coated liposomes on vasoregression in a model of retinal degeneration. Clodronate treatment over 5 weeks led to an increase in activated CD74+ microglia and completely prevented acellular capillaries and pericyte loss. Gene expression analyses indicated that vasoprotection was due to the induction of vasoprotective factors such as Egr1, Stat3, and Ahr while expression of pro-inflammatory genes remained unchanged. We concluded that activated microglia led to a shift toward induction of pleiotropic protective pathways supporting vasoprotection in neurovascular retinal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Riemann
- 5th Medical Department, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.,European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Matthias Kolibabka
- 5th Medical Department, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.,European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Stephanie Busch
- 5th Medical Department, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Jihong Lin
- 5th Medical Department, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.,European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Sigrid Hoffmann
- Medical Research Center, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Norbert Gretz
- Medical Research Center, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Yuxi Feng
- Experimental Pharmacology, European Center for Angioscience, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Paulus Wohlfart
- Sanofi Aventis Deutschland GmbH, TA Diabetes R&D, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Hans-Peter Hammes
- 5th Medical Department, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.,European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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Gupta A, Mohanty P, Bhatnagar S. Integrative analysis of ocular complications in atherosclerosis unveils pathway convergence and crosstalk. J Recept Signal Transduct Res 2014; 35:149-64. [PMID: 25055025 DOI: 10.3109/10799893.2014.942462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is a life-threatening disease and a major cause of mortalities worldwide. While many of the atherosclerotic sequelae are reflected as microvascular effects in the eye, the molecular mechanisms of their development is not yet known. In this study, we employed a systems biology approach to unveil the most significant events and key molecular mediators of ophthalmic sequelae caused by atherosclerosis. Literature mining was used to identify the proteins involved in both atherosclerosis and ophthalmic diseases. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was prepared using the literature-mined seed nodes. Network topological analysis was carried out using Cytoscape, while network nodes were annotated using database for annotation, visualization and integrated discovery in order to identify the most enriched pathways and processes. Network analysis revealed that mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1) and protein kinase C occur with highest betweenness centrality, degree and closeness centrality, thus reflecting their functional importance to the network. Our analysis shows that atherosclerosis-associated ophthalmic complications are caused by the convergence of neurotrophin signaling pathways, multiple immune response pathways and focal adhesion pathway on the MAPK signaling pathway. The PPI network shares features with vasoregression, a process underlying multiple vascular eye diseases. Our study presents a first clear and composite picture of the components and crosstalk of the main pathways of atherosclerosis-induced ocular diseases. The hub bottleneck nodes highlight the presence of molecules important for mediating the ophthalmic complications of atherosclerosis and contain five established drug targets for future therapeutic modulation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akanksha Gupta
- Division of Biotechnology, Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology , New Delhi , India
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