Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 5, 2026
06:51
Retinal Explant of the Adult Mouse Retina as an Ex Vivo Model for Studying Retinal Neurovascular Diseases
Published on: December 9, 2022
5.6K
Nuclear receptor RORα regulates pathologic retinal angiogenesis by modulating SOCS3-dependent inflammation
Ye Sun1, Chi-Hsiu Liu1, John Paul SanGiovanni2
1Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115;
Summary
Retinoic-acid-receptor-related orphan receptor alpha (RORα) drives pathologic retinal neovascularization by suppressing inflammation. Inhibiting RORα with SR1001 offers a promising new treatment for ocular angiogenesis and vision loss.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Pathologic ocular angiogenesis, a major cause of blindness, is linked to lipid metabolism and inflammation.
- The role of retinoic-acid-receptor-related orphan receptor alpha (RORα), a lipid-sensing nuclear receptor, in retinal angiogenesis is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of RORα in pathologic retinal neovascularization.
- To explore RORα inhibition as a potential therapeutic strategy for ocular angiogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy.
- Assessed RORα expression, cytokine levels, and gene transcription (SOCS3).
- Administered RORα inverse agonist (SR1001) and agonist in different angiogenic models.
Main Results:
- RORα expression increased in retinopathy; RORα deficiency reduced neovascularization.
- RORα deficiency altered cytokine profiles and suppressed SOCS3 transcription.
- SR1001 treatment protected against neovascularization, while RORα agonist worsened it.
Conclusions:
- RORα is a novel regulator of pathologic retinal neovascularization.
- RORα inhibition demonstrates therapeutic potential for treating ocular neovascularization.
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