Yi Dong1, Guangming Wan2, Guanghua Peng3, Panshi Yan1, Cheng Qian1, Fuzhen Li1. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Province Eye Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450052, China. 2. Department of Ophthalmology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Province Eye Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450052, China. Electronic address: wangm19@aol.com. 3. School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Patients with chronic hyperglycemia are at high risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. In this study, we investigated the functional role of long-noncoding RNA (lncRNA) X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) in anin vitro model of diabetic hyperglycemia in human retinal pigment epithelial ARPE-19 cells. METHOD: ARPE-19 cells were cultured in normal glucose (NG) and high-glucose (HG) conditions to mimic hyperglycemia-associated cell apoptosis, migration and XIST expression. XIST was overexpressed in ARPE-19 cells to examine its functions in HG-induced cell apoptosis and migration. The downstream competing target of XIST, human mature microRNA-21-5p (hsa-miR-21-5p) was assessed by dual-luciferase assay and qRT-PCR. Hsa-miR-21-5p was upregulated in XIST-overexpressed ARPE-19 cells to further assess the functional correlation between XIST and hsa-miR-21-5p in hyperglycemia-associated cell apoptosis and migration. RESULTS: HG insult increased apoptosis, reduced migration and downregulated XIST in ARPE-19 cells. XIST overexpression significantly protected HG insult in ARPE-19 cells, by reducing apoptosis and restoring migration capability. XIST directly bound and inhibited hsa-miR-21-5p expression in HG-insulted ARPE-19 cells. Furthermore, hsa-miR-21-5p upregulation reversed the protective effects of XIST in HG-insulted ARPE-19 cells. CONCLUSION: XIST, likely through competitive binding of hsa-miR-21-5p, provides protection against hyperglycemia-associated injury in human retinal pigment epithelial cells.
OBJECTIVE:Patients with chronic hyperglycemia are at high risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. In this study, we investigated the functional role of long-noncoding RNA (lncRNA) X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) in anin vitro model of diabetic hyperglycemia in human retinal pigment epithelial ARPE-19 cells. METHOD:ARPE-19 cells were cultured in normal glucose (NG) and high-glucose (HG) conditions to mimic hyperglycemia-associated cell apoptosis, migration and XIST expression. XIST was overexpressed in ARPE-19 cells to examine its functions in HG-induced cell apoptosis and migration. The downstream competing target of XIST, human mature microRNA-21-5p (hsa-miR-21-5p) was assessed by dual-luciferase assay and qRT-PCR. Hsa-miR-21-5p was upregulated in XIST-overexpressed ARPE-19 cells to further assess the functional correlation between XIST and hsa-miR-21-5p in hyperglycemia-associated cell apoptosis and migration. RESULTS: HG insult increased apoptosis, reduced migration and downregulated XIST in ARPE-19 cells. XIST overexpression significantly protected HG insult in ARPE-19 cells, by reducing apoptosis and restoring migration capability. XIST directly bound and inhibited hsa-miR-21-5p expression in HG-insulted ARPE-19 cells. Furthermore, hsa-miR-21-5p upregulation reversed the protective effects of XIST in HG-insulted ARPE-19 cells. CONCLUSION:XIST, likely through competitive binding of hsa-miR-21-5p, provides protection against hyperglycemia-associated injury in human retinal pigment epithelial cells.