Altered microRNA expression profiles in retinas with diabetic retinopathy

Rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes were studied in order to identify abnormal microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles in diabetic retinopathy (DR) and to ascertain miRNAs associated with DR. Histopathologically, we observed characteristic features of DR in rats at 10 weeks after STZ injection. Investigation of miRNA expression profiles in the retinas of control and diabetic rats using miRNA microarrays revealed that many miRNAs were abnormally expressed in DR. On the basis of their fold changes and probability values, a total of 37 miRNAs were selected for further validation by real-time PCR analysis. The results showed that 11 miRNAs were significantly upregulated and 6 miRNAs were notably downregulated in DR. Furthermore, these changes in retinal miRNA expression levels paralleled the course of DR. Levels of miR-182, miR-96, miR-183, miR-211, miR-204, and miR-124 were significantly increased during the progress of DR, whereas miR-10b, miR-10a, miR-219-2-3p, miR-144, miR-338, and miR-199a-3p were significantly decreased. Our data indicate that the aberrant miRNA expression profiles in DR are associated with the development of DR. Modulation of retinal miRNA expression levels may provide a potential therapeutic strategy for DRs.