Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 3, 2026
07:23
Retinal Vascular Reactivity as Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
Published on: March 26, 2020
8.7K
The m 6 A writer VIRMA regulates the developmental elimination of retinal astrocytes and retinal vascular integrity
Cuiting Wu1,2,3, Xiaoli Wu1,3, Min Wu1,3,4
1Shenzhen Neher Neural Plasticity Laboratory, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China.
Neural Regeneration Research
|February 1, 2026
Abstract
No abstract available in PubMed .
Insights
The study reveals that VIRMA protein is crucial for retinal astrocyte development and visual function. Its absence causes astrocyte buildup and leads to vision loss by disrupting vascular integrity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Astrocyte network formation is vital for retinal vasculature and vision.
- Mechanisms regulating astrocyte migration and network development are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify novel regulators of retinal astrocyte development and visual function.
- To investigate the role of VIRMA (virilizer homolog)-like m6A methyltransferase associated protein in the retina.
Main Methods:
- Conditional knockout of VIRMA in retinal astrocytes in mice.
- Assessment of astrocyte migration, accumulation, and microglia-mediated phagocytosis.
- Analysis of retinal vascularization and plexus stability.
- Single-nucleus transcriptomic analysis to identify affected genes and pathways.
Main Results:
- Conditional knockout of VIRMA in retinal astrocytes led to impaired phagocytic clearance and abnormal astrocyte accumulation.
- VIRMA deficiency resulted in vascular plexus instability, vessel regression, and irreversible visual impairment.
- Loss of VIRMA disrupted m6A-modified genes involved in extracellular matrix organization and angiogenesis.
- Impaired astrocyte-endothelial cell communication and breakdown of vascular homeostasis were observed.
Conclusions:
- VIRMA, a core component of the m6A methyltransferase complex, is a novel regulator of retinal astrocyte development and visual function.
- VIRMA/m6A pathway is critical for the developmental elimination of retinal astrocytes and maintenance of neurovascular integrity.
- This study offers insights into astrocyte-related retinopathies and potential therapeutic targets for vascular disorders.
Related Concept Videos
02:58Regulated Protein Degradation
8.9K
It is vital to regulate the activity of enzymatic as well as non-enzymatic proteins inside the cell. This can be achieved either through creating a balance between their rate of synthesis and degradation or regulating the intrinsic activity of the protein. Both these regulation mechanisms play an essential role in the normal functioning of cells.
Protein degradation plays two important roles in the cells. It helps to protect cells from misfolded or damaged proteins before they lead to a...
Protein degradation plays two important roles in the cells. It helps to protect cells from misfolded or damaged proteins before they lead to a...
8.9K
01:27Introduction to Developmental Psychology
1.5K
Developmental psychology explores the changes and continuities in human abilities throughout life, encompassing physical, cognitive, linguistic, and social dimensions. Human development is not restricted to growth, but includes aspects of decline, particularly in physical abilities as individuals age. Developmental psychologists seek to understand how people change as they age and how their mental and social skills evolve.Developmental MilestonesA key concept in developmental psychology is...
1.5K
01:29Three Developmental Domains
1.1K
Human development is typically examined across three main domains: physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional. These domains represent the significant areas of change and continuity throughout the lifespan, from infancy to late adulthood.
Physical Development
Physical processes, also known as maturation, encompass the biological changes that occur across an individual's life. These changes begin with genetic inheritance and continue through various stages, including growth in height and weight,...
Physical Development
Physical processes, also known as maturation, encompass the biological changes that occur across an individual's life. These changes begin with genetic inheritance and continue through various stages, including growth in height and weight,...
1.1K
03:24Seedless Vascular Plants
66.9K
Seedless Vascular Plants Were the First Tall Plants on Earth
66.9K
01:14Maintenance of the ES Cell State
2.8K
The cells of the blastocyst inner cell mass only remain pluripotent for a short time. This state of pluripotency and self-renewal can be maintained in embryonic stem (ES) cell culture by adding specific chemicals or growth factors to ensure the cells can continue dividing and later differentiate into different cell types. In some cases, the cells are grown on a feeder layer of differentiated cells, which provides the growth factors and extracellular matrix components necessary for stem cell...
2.8K
01:05Elimination Kinetics: First-Order and Zero-Order
2.9K
Eliminating drugs from the body is a vital process that occurs through excretion or metabolism. Understanding the kinetics of drug elimination is crucial for drug development, dosage determination, and optimizing patient outcomes.
Drug clearance depends on the rate of drug elimination and its plasma concentration. Another important parameter is a drug's half-life, which is the time required for its concentration to decrease by half. In most cases, drug clearance follows first-order...
Drug clearance depends on the rate of drug elimination and its plasma concentration. Another important parameter is a drug's half-life, which is the time required for its concentration to decrease by half. In most cases, drug clearance follows first-order...
2.9K