Basic Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2021. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Diabetes. Jul 15, 2021; 12(7): 1116-1130
Published online Jul 15, 2021. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v12.i7.1116
Expression and role of P-element-induced wimpy testis-interacting RNA in diabetic-retinopathy in mice
Yong Yu, Kai-Ming Ren, Xiao-Long Chen
Yong Yu, Xiao-Long Chen, Department of Ophthalmology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China
Kai-Ming Ren, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China
Author contributions: Yu Y and Ren KM designed this study, conducted the experimental analysis, and wrote the manuscript; Chen XL revised the manuscript; all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81570866.
Institutional animal care and use committee statement: The study was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University (Approval No. 2020PS078K).
Conflict-of-interest statement: No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article are reported.
Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.
ARRIVE guidelines statement: The authors have read the ARRIVE guidelines, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the ARRIVE guidelines.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Xiao-Long Chen, MD, Chief Doctor, Surgeon, Department of Ophthalmology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, No. 39 Huaxiang Road, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China. chenxl@sj-hospital.org
Received: March 2, 2021
Peer-review started: March 2, 2021
First decision: April 6, 2021
Revised: April 11, 2021
Accepted: May 20, 2021
Article in press: May 20, 2021
Published online: July 15, 2021
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
Research background

Retinal neovascularization is caused by the progression of ischemic retinal diseases, including diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, age-related macular degeneration, and retinal vein occlusion. Complications of retinal neovascularization can severely impair vision or lead to permanent blindness.

Research motivation

To explore the upstream molecules of vascular endothelial growth factor or rate-limiting steps of angiogenesis, and to reveal new approaches to the treatment of diabetic retinal.

Research objectives

The research on the role of piRNAs (p-Element-induced wimpy testis-interacting RNAs) in retinal neovascularization disease is expected to provide theoretical support for the clinical treatment of diabetic retina.

Research methods

A diabetic retinopathy model was established. The differentially expressed piRNA was screened by high-throughput sequencing, and the differentially expressed piRNA was selected according to the sequencing results, and verified by polymerase chain reaction.

Research results

A total of 79 piRNAs were differentially expressed in experimental group, of which 43 were upregulated and 36 were down-regulated.

Research conclusions

piRNAs were differentially expressed in DR model. Differentially expressed piRNAs is involved in the formation of retinal neovascularization. Differentially expressed piRNAs can regulate retinal development and retinal angiopathy through a variety of signaling pathways.

Research perspectives

Drugs targeting piRNAs may be novel candidates for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy.