Critical Role of VEGF as a Direct Regulator of Photoreceptor Function.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF or VEGF-A), a major pathogenic factor for diabetic and hypoxic blood-retina barrier (BRB) diseases, has been shown to act as a direct functional regulator for neurons in the peripheral and central nerve systems. To determine if VEGF plays a direct role in regulating retinal neuronal function, we established specific experimental procedures and examined the effect of recombinant VEGF (rVEGF) on photoreceptor function with electroretinography (ERG) in mice. In our case, rVEGF caused a significant reduction of scotopic ERG a-wave and b-wave amplitudes and photopic ERG b-wave amplitudes in a dose-dependent manner in dark-adapted wild-type (WT) mice, shortly after the intravitreal delivery of rVEGF in dark.

LONG-TERM EVOLUTION OF MYOPIC RETINOSCHISIS WITH A DOME-SHAPED MACULA AND PREDICTORS OF PROGRESSION AND VISUAL PROGNOSIS.

Purpose: To study the long-term natural course of myopic retinoschisis (MRS) with a dome-shaped macula (DSM) and to identify the factors affecting its development and visual prognosis.

Methods: In this retrospective case series study, we followed 25 MRS eyes with a DSM and 68 MRS eyes without a DSM for at least two years and observed changes in optical coherence tomography morphologic features and best-corrected visual acuity.

Results: During the mean follow-up of 48.

VEGF as a Direct Functional Regulator of Photoreceptors and Contributing Factor to Diabetes-Induced Alteration of Photoreceptor Function.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a major therapeutic target for blood-retina barrier (BRB) breakdown in diabetic retinopathy (DR), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and other hypoxic retinal vascular disorders. To determine whether VEGF is a direct regulator of retinal neuronal function and its potential role in altering vision during the progression of DR, we examined the immediate impact of recombinant VEGF (rVEGF) on photoreceptor function with electroretinography in C57BL6 background wild-type (WT) and Akita spontaneous diabetic mice. Shortly after intravitreal injections, rVEGF caused a significant reduction of scotopic ERG a-wave and b-wave amplitudes and photopic ERG b-wave amplitudes in a dose-dependent manner in dark-adapted 1.

CCAAT/Enhancer-Binding Protein Mediates Oxygen-Induced Retinal Neovascularization via Retinal Vascular Damage and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor.

Objective: To evaluate the role of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP (C/EBP.

Methods: Rats with OIR were exposed to alternating hypoxic and hyperopic conditions for 14 days. Then, the rats with OIR were assigned randomly to groups that received intravitreal injections of either shRNA lentiviral particles targeting C/EBP (C/EBP (C/EBP (C/EBP (C/EBP (C/EBP (C/EBP.

Correction to: P66Shc expression in diabetic rat retina.

Following publication of the original article.

P66Shc expression in diabetic rat retina.

Background: P66Shc is partially localised within the mitochondrial fraction. It is primarily related to the generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and apoptosis. Based on previous studies, we hypothesize that in the retina, p66Shc may exist and affect the development of diabetic retinopathy.

G protein-coupled receptor 91 signaling in diabetic retinopathy and hypoxic retinal diseases.

G protein-coupled receptor 91 (GPR91) is a succinate-specific receptor and activation of GPR91 could initiate a complex signal transduction cascade and upregulate inflammatory and pro-angiogenic cytokines. In the retina, GPR91 is predominately expressed in ganglion cells, a major cellular entity involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and other hypoxic retinal diseases. During the development of DR and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), chronic hypoxia causes an increase in the levels of local succinate.

Transcription factors regulate GPR91-mediated expression of VEGF in hypoxia-induced retinopathy.

Hypoxia is the most important factor in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Our previous studies demonstrated that G protein-coupled receptor 91(GPR91) participated in the regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion in DR. The present study induced OIR model in newborn rats using exposure to alternating 24-hour episodes of 50% and 12% oxygen for 14 days.

Population-based survey of prevalence, causes, and risk factors for blindness and visual impairment in an aging Chinese metropolitan population.

Aim: To assess the prevalence, causes, and risk factors for blindness and visual impairment among elderly (≥60 years of age) Chinese people in a metropolitan area of Shanghai, China.

Methods: Random cluster sampling was conducted to identify participants among residents ≥60 years of age living in the Xietu Block, Xuhui District, Shanghai, China. Presenting visual acuity (PVA) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were checked by the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) visual chart.

Baclofen Protects Primary Rat Retinal Ganglion Cells from Chemical Hypoxia-Induced Apoptosis Through the Akt and PERK Pathways.

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) consume large quantities of energy to convert light information into a neuronal signal, which makes them highly susceptible to hypoxic injury. This study aimed to investigate the potential protection by baclofen, a GABA receptor agonist of RGCs against hypoxia-induced apoptosis. Cobalt chloride (CoCl) was applied to mimic hypoxia.

Comparative analysis of three purification protocols for retinal ganglion cells from rat.

Purpose: To make comparative analyses of the common three purification protocols for retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), providing a solid practical basis for selecting the method for purifying RGCs for use in subsequent experiments.

Methods: Rat RGCs were isolated and purified using three methods, including two-step immunopanning (TIP) separation, two-step immunopanning-magnetic (TIPM) separation, and flow cytometric (FC) separation. Immunocytochemical staining, quantitative real-time PCR, flow cytometry, electrophysiology, and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) analyses were performed to compare the purity, yield, and viability of the RGCs.

The MAPK signaling pathway mediates the GPR91-dependent release of VEGF from RGC-5 cells.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the major regulatory molecules in diabetic retinopathy (DR). In our previous study, we demonstrated that succinate levels were elevated in the retinas of diabetic rats and that the knockdown of the succinate receptor, G-protein-coupled receptor 91 (GPR91), inhibited the release of VEGF and attenuated retinal vascular disorder in the early stages of DR. In the present study, we examined the signaling pathways involved in the GPR91-dependent release of VEGF in the retinal ganglion cell line, RGC-5.

Decorin Prevents Retinal Pigment Epithelial Barrier Breakdown Under Diabetic Conditions by Suppressing p38 MAPK Activation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of decorin on the barrier function of human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells under high-glucose (HG) plus hypoxia conditions.

Methods: Human RPE (ARPE-19) cells were cultured for 18 days in normal glucose (5.5 mM) or HG (25 mM) medium.

ERK1/2/COX-2/PGE2 signaling pathway mediates GPR91-dependent VEGF release in streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

Purpose: Retinal vascular dysfunction caused by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the major pathological change that occurs in diabetic retinopathy (DR). It has recently been demonstrated that G protein-coupled receptor 91 (GPR91) plays a major role in both vasculature development and retinal angiogenesis. In this study, we examined the signaling pathways involved in GPR91-dependent VEGF release during the early stages of retinal vascular change in streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

Altered retinal microRNA expression profiles in early diabetic retinopathy: an in silico analysis.

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.

RNA Interference Targeting Snail Inhibits the Transforming Growth Factor β 2-Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Human Lens Epithelial Cells.

Epithelial-msenchymal transition (EMT) contributes to posterior capsule opacification (PCO) type of cataract. Transcription factors Snail is a key trigger of EMT activated by transforming growth factor β (TGF β ). This study was done to investigate the effect of Snail targeting siRNA on TGF β 2-induced EMT in human lens epithelial cells.

Decorin inhibits angiogenic potential of choroid-retinal endothelial cells by downregulating hypoxia-induced Met, Rac1, HIF-1α and VEGF expression in cocultured retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is one of the most common causes of severe vision loss. Decorin, a multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has been recently shown to play an important regulatory role in angiogenic response. This study aims to investigate whether the overexpression of decorin in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells under hypoxia alters the in vitro angiogenic ability of cocultured choroid-retinal endothelial cells and to explore the possible mechanisms involved.

Inhibition of high glucose-induced VEGF release in retinal ganglion cells by RNA interference targeting G protein-coupled receptor 91.

Recent research using a rat oxygen-induced retinopathy model has demonstrated that the G protein-coupled receptor 91 (GPR91) of retinal ganglion neurons is the principal respondent to succinate and consequently induces the release of angiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The aim of this study was to determine whether GPR91 modulate the release of VEGF from retinal ganglion cells in a high-glucose model in vitro and to dissect the role of GPR91 in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. We constructed a lentiviral small hairpin RNA (shRNA) expression vector targeting GPR91 (LV.

Polymorphisms of the WRN gene and DNA damage of peripheral lymphocytes in age-related cataract in a Han Chinese population.

Werner syndrome is caused by mutations in the DNA repair Werner helicase (WRN) gene and characterized by accelerated aging including cataracts. Age-related cataract (ARC) cases (N = 504) and controls (N = 244) were recruited from a population-based study to evaluate the association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of WRN and another DNA repair gene (human 8-oxoguanine DNA N-glycosylase 1) with ARC. Among the five SNPs tested, only WRN rs1346044 was found to be significantly associated between cases and controls before multiple-testing adjustment.

[Prevalence and surgery status of cataract among adults aged 50 years or above in Qidong City of Jiangsu Province: the China Nine-Province Survey].

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of cataract, the rate of cataract surgical coverage rate,and the rate of cataract-blindness social burden among older adults aged 50 years or above in Qidong City of Jiangsu Province, China, in 2006.

Methods: Cluster sampling was used in randomly selected 5662 individuals aged 50 years or above in 16 clusters in Qidong City. 5141 individuals received visual acuity and eye examination from September to December 2006.

[Prevalence of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairment among adults aged 50 years or above in Qidong City of Jiangsu Province: the China Nine-Province Survey].

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of blindness and low vision among older adults aged > or = 50 years in Qidong City of Jiangsu Province, China, in 2006.

Methods: Cluster sampling was used in randomly selecting 5662 individuals aged > or = 50 years from September to December 2006 in 16 clusters in Qidong City. The survey was preceded by a pilot study where operational methods were refined and quality assurance evaluation was carried out.

Age-related macular degeneration-susceptibility single nucleotide polymorphisms in a han chinese control population.

Purpose: Our study aimed to detect the frequency of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)-susceptibility single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in control subjects of Han Chinese in a population-based study.

Methods: A total of 419 subjects of Han Chinese without AMD were recruited from our population-based Nantong Eye Study. Nine AMD-susceptibility SNPs were genotyped.

The association between copy number variations in glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 and age-related cataract in a Han Chinese population.

Purpose: To determine the contribution of copy number variation (CNV) in glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) to the susceptibility to age-related cataract (ARC) and its subtypes in a Han Chinese population.

Methods: ARC cases (n = 279) and controls (n = 145) were included from a Han Chinese population-based prospective study. Quantitative RT-PCR and the DeltaCt method were used to determine the presence of no, one, or multiple alleles of GSTM1 and GSTT1.

[Effects of three madriatics on the human ocular aberrations].

Objective: To evaluate the effects of three common madriatics-phenylephrine, tropicamide and Mydrin-P on aberrations in human eye.

Methods: General aberrations, lower- and higher-order aberrations (HOA) were measured at the pupil diameter 4.0 mm and 7.