Journal Article

Plasma miR-26a-5p is a biomarker for retinal neurodegeneration of early diabetic retinopathy

Deng, Ying, Zhou, Haiyan, Lin, Rong, Liu, YiZhen, Shi, Rui, Chen, Li, Wang, Weirong

2021

Overview

Learning ObjectivesUpon completion of this activity, participants will:Describe plasma microRNAs (miRNAs) validated with qualitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in patients with type 2 diabetes with or without diabetic retinopathy (DR), and their correlation with neurodegeneration, according to retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness measured using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.Determine gene targets of miRNA and mechanisms underlying the pathogenic process of DR, according to bioinformatic analysis used to predict potential targets of miRNA associated with RNFL thickness and to investigate the functions of the potential target genes.Identify clinical implications of bioinformatic analysis of miRNAs in DR and their gene targets.Continuing Medical EducationIn support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Medscape, LLC and Springer Nature. Medscape, LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.Medscape, LLC designates this Journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.0 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) programme. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.All other clinicians completing this activity will be issued a certificate of participation. To participate in this journal CME activity: (1) review the learning objectives and author disclosures; (2) study the education content; (3) take the post-test with a 75% minimum passing score and complete the evaluation at www.medscape.org/journal/eye; (4) view/print certificate.Credit hours1.0Release date:Expiration date:Post-test link:https://medscape.org/eye/posttest943521Authors/Editors disclosure informationSS has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships: Served as an advisor or consultant for: Allergan, Inc.; Apellis; Bayer AG; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Heidelberg Pharma GmbH; Novartis; Oculis; Optos; Oxurion; Roche; Served as a speaker or a member of a speakers bureau for: Allergan, Inc.; Bayer AG; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; Optos; Received grants for clinical research from: Allergan, Inc.; Bayer AG; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; Optos. RS, LC, WW, YD, YZL, HZ. RL have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.Journal CME author disclosure informationLaurie Barclay has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.PurposeRetinal neurodegeneration is an early pathological change in diabetic retinopathy (DR). Early-stage retinal neurodegeneration is usually asymptomatic. This study aims to identify circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) as sensitive biomarkers for early retinal neurodegeneration.MethodsWe profiled the plasma miRNA expression in three mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) cases and three matched non-DR patients using RNA sequencing. The differential miRNAs were validated with qRT-PCR. The retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness of the eyes was measured using spectral-domain Optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). The association between differential miRNAs and RNFL thickness was analysed using the Pearson correlation analysis. Bioinformatics tools were used to predict potential targets of miRNA associated with RNFL thickness and investigate the functions of the potential target genes.ResultsRNA sequencing identified 69 differential miRNAs and eight of them were reported to be associated with DR. The qRT-PCR for these eight miRNAs validated the down-regulation of circulating miR-26a-5p and miR-126-5p in a larger validating cohort. A positive correlation between plasma miR-26a-5p level and the RNFL thickness of the superior quadrant of both eyes was identified in another cohort, including 33 mild NPDR cases, 33 matched non-DR patients and 20 healthy controls. Furthermore, 367 candidate targets of miR-26a-5p were predicted. The functional studies revealed that these target genes are profoundly involved in various cellular functions and signalling pathways.ConclusionsCirculating miR-26a-5p is a potential biomarker for early-stage retinal neurodegeneration and it may be involved in the development of DR via profoundly influencing the functions of retinal cells.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Subject: Accreditation / Bioinformatics / Biomarkers / Correlation analysis / Diabetes / Diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent) / Diabetic retinopathy / Eye / Genes / Medical education / MicroRNAs / miRNA / Neurodegeneration / Participation / Patients / Pharmaceuticals / Plasma / Polymerase chain reaction / Retina / Retinopathy / Signal transduction / Tomography