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Updated: Jan 2, 2026
Preparation and In Vitro Characterization of Magnetized miR-modified Endothelial Cells
Published on: May 2, 2017
miR302a and 122 are deregulated in small extracellular vesicles from ARPE-19 cells cultured with H2O2
Maria Oltra1,2,3, Lorena Vidal-Gil1,2,3, Rosa Maisto4
1Escuela de Doctorado Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir, Valencia, Spain.
Abstract:
Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common retina-related disease leading to blindness. Little is known on the origin of the disease, but it is well documented that oxidative stress generated in the retinal pigment epithelium and choroid neovascularization are closely involved. The study of circulating miRNAs is opening new possibilities in terms of diagnosis and therapeutics. miRNAs can travel associated to lipoproteins or inside small Extracellular Vesicles (sEVs). A number of reports indicate a significant deregulation of circulating miRNAs in AMD and experimental approaches, but it is unclear whether sEVs present a significant miRNA cargo. The present work studies miRNA expression changes in sEVs released from ARPE-19 cells under oxidative conditions (i.e. hydrogen peroxide, H2O2). H2O2 increased sEVs release from ARPE-19 cells. Moreover, 218 miRNAs could be detected in control and H2O2 induced-sEVs. Interestingly, only two of them (hsa-miR-302a and hsa-miR-122) were significantly under-expressed in H2O2-induced sEVs. Results herein suggest that the down regulation of miRNAs 302a and 122 might be related with previous studies showing sEVs-induced neovascularization after oxidative challenge in ARPE-19 cells.
Insights
Oxidative stress in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) released by retinal cells. This study found that hydrogen peroxide exposure down-regulated specific microRNAs (miRNAs) within these sEVs, potentially linking to AMD pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness, with oxidative stress and choroidal neovascularization implicated in its development.
- Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as potential biomarkers for diagnosis and therapy.
- Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) transport miRNAs, but their cargo in AMD remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate miRNA expression changes in sEVs from ARPE-19 cells under oxidative stress.
- To determine if oxidative conditions alter the miRNA cargo of sEVs.
Main Methods:
- ARPE-19 cells were exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) to induce oxidative stress.
- sEVs released from control and H₂O₂-treated cells were isolated.
- miRNA expression profiling was performed on isolated sEVs.
Main Results:
- Hydrogen peroxide treatment increased the release of sEVs from ARPE-19 cells.
- A total of 218 miRNAs were detected in sEVs under both conditions.
- H₂O₂-induced sEVs showed significant down-regulation of two miRNAs: hsa-miR-302a and hsa-miR-122.
Conclusions:
- The down-regulation of hsa-miR-302a and hsa-miR-122 in sEVs under oxidative stress may be associated with AMD.
- These findings suggest a potential role for specific sEV-derived miRNAs in the oxidative stress-related neovascularization observed in AMD.
