BACKGROUND: The role of microRNA (miRNA)-200b in the pathogenesis of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) has been studied in diabetic animal models. The aim of this study was to assess miRNA-200b expression in the vitreous of patients with PDR and to determine its correlation with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), one of the pathogenic mechanisms in PDR. METHODS: Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to measure miRNA-200b expression in the vitreous from 29 eyes with PDR and 30 eyes with idiopathic macular holes (IMH; control group). Vitreous VEGF was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: miRNA-200b expression was about 5-fold increased in the vitreous samples from eyes with PDR compared with the controls (p ≤ 0.001). Vitreous VEGF expression was also significantly higher in the PDR group than in the IMH group (p ≤ 0.001), but no significant correlation was found between miRNA-200b and VEGF. CONCLUSION: Both miRNA-200b and VEGF are increased in the vitreous of patients with PDR but in a noncorrelated pattern. miRNA-200b may be involved in the pathogenesis of PDR but through VEGF-independent mechanisms. Further studies are needed to identify the miRNA-200b-targeted genes involved in the pathogenesis of PDR and to examine the potential role of miRNA-200b as a target for PDR treatment.
BACKGROUND: The role of microRNA (miRNA)-200b in the pathogenesis of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) has been studied in diabetic animal models. The aim of this study was to assess miRNA-200b expression in the vitreous of patients with PDR and to determine its correlation with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), one of the pathogenic mechanisms in PDR. METHODS: Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to measure miRNA-200b expression in the vitreous from 29 eyes with PDR and 30 eyes with idiopathic macular holes (IMH; control group). Vitreous VEGF was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: miRNA-200b expression was about 5-fold increased in the vitreous samples from eyes with PDR compared with the controls (p ≤ 0.001). Vitreous VEGF expression was also significantly higher in the PDR group than in the IMH group (p ≤ 0.001), but no significant correlation was found between miRNA-200b and VEGF. CONCLUSION: Both miRNA-200b and VEGF are increased in the vitreous of patients with PDR but in a noncorrelated pattern. miRNA-200b may be involved in the pathogenesis of PDR but through VEGF-independent mechanisms. Further studies are needed to identify the miRNA-200b-targeted genes involved in the pathogenesis of PDR and to examine the potential role of miRNA-200b as a target for PDR treatment.
Authors: Maria Enoia Dantas da Costa E Silva; Evelise Regina Polina; Daisy Crispim; Renan Cesar Sbruzzi; Daniel Lavinsky; Felipe Mallmann; Nidiane Carla Martinelli; Luis Henrique Canani; Katia Gonçalves Dos Santos Journal: J Cell Mol Med Date: 2018-11-23 Impact factor: 5.310