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Updated: Jun 2, 2026
Retinal Pathophysiological Evaluation in a Rat Model
Published on: May 6, 2022
Profiling dysregulated circRNA expression in diabetic retinopathy: elucidating putative mediators via a
Conghui Zhang1, Le Feng2, Qian Li1
1Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Background:
Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a conserved class of non-coding RNAs, are hypothesized to play functional roles in diabetic retinopathy (DR), yet their expression landscape and molecular involvement in retinal tissue remain poorly defined.
Methods:
A streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse model (C57BL/6J, male, n=40) was established, with diabetes confirmed by persistent hyperglycemia (fasting blood glucose >300 mg/dL). Retinal function was assessed by electroretinography (ERG) and vascular pathology by fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA) at 12 weeks post-induction. Retinal circRNA profiles were obtained via microarray analysis. Bioinformatic tools were used to predict circRNA-miRNA interactions, and Gene Ontology (GO) analysis was applied to annotate potential target genes. Differential expression of selected circRNAs was validated by quantitative PCR (qPCR).
Results:
Diabetic mice exhibited sustained hyperglycemia, reduced body weight, significant declines in ERG a and b wave amplitudes, and early microangiopathy evident on FFA. Microarray profiling identified 21 dysregulated circRNAs (3 upregulated, 18 downregulated), classified as antisense, exonic, intronic, or intragenic. Bioinformatics reconstruction revealed a circRNA-miRNA network with shared microRNAs (miRNAs), and GO enrichment highlighted processes including transcriptional regulation and cancer-related signaling. qPCR confirmed the expression changes of four circRNAs. Cross-species alignment showed high sequence homology between four murine circRNAs and human orthologs.
Conclusion:
This study identifies 21 conserved circRNAs with altered expression in the diabetic retina, supporting their potential role as competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) and implicating them in DR pathogenesis.
Insights
This study identified 21 conserved circular RNAs (circRNAs) with altered expression in the diabetic retina, suggesting their role in diabetic retinopathy (DR) pathogenesis. These findings highlight circRNAs as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for DR.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are non-coding RNAs with hypothesized roles in diabetic retinopathy (DR).
- The expression and function of circRNAs in retinal tissue during DR remain largely uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the circRNA expression landscape in a mouse model of diabetic retinopathy.
- To identify specific circRNAs involved in the molecular mechanisms of DR.
Main Methods:
- Establishment of a streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse model.
- Assessment of retinal function (electroretinography) and vascular pathology (fundus angiography).
- circRNA profiling via microarray, bioinformatics analysis of circRNA-miRNA interactions, and quantitative PCR validation.
Main Results:
- Diabetic mice showed hyperglycemia, reduced retinal function, and microangiopathy.
- Microarray analysis revealed 21 dysregulated circRNAs (3 upregulated, 18 downregulated) in the diabetic retina.
- Bioinformatics predicted a circRNA-miRNA network, and Gene Ontology analysis implicated processes like transcriptional regulation.
Conclusions:
- This study identifies 21 conserved circRNAs with altered expression in the diabetic retina.
- These circRNAs may function as competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) in DR pathogenesis.
- The findings support the involvement of circRNAs in the development of diabetic retinopathy.
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