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Updated: May 27, 2026
Assessment of Vascular Regeneration in the CNS Using the Mouse Retina
Published on: June 23, 2014
Suppression of retinal neovascularization by lentivirus-mediated netrin-1 small hairpin RNA
Huizhuo Xu1, Jiaolian Liu, Siqi Xiong
1Department of Ophthalmology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Objectives:
The function of netrin-1 in pathological angiogenesis and its role in retinal neovascularization were investigated in the retinas of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) mice by inhibition of netrin-1.
Methods:
Expression of netrin-1 mRNA and protein in the retinas of OIR mice was analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR and immunoblotting. Inhibition of retinal neovascularization was achieved by lentivirus-mediated netrin-1 small hairpin RNA (shRNA) infection. Retinal neovascularization was examined by fluorescein angiography and quantification of preretinal neovascular nuclei in retinal sections.
Results:
Both mRNA and protein expression of netrin-1 were significantly upregulated in postnatal day 17 OIR mouse retinas. Treatment of OIR mice with specific lentivirus-mediated netrin-1 shRNA dramatically reduced neovascular outgrowth into the inner limiting membrane. Neovascular tufts and nonperfused areas were also reduced.
Conclusions:
High expression of netrin-1 was detected in the retina under ischemic conditions and played a significant role in pathological retinal angiogenesis. Therefore, netrin-1 represents a potential therapeutic target for diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity and other ocular neovascular diseases.
