VEGF as a Direct Functional Regulator of Photoreceptors and Contributing Factor to Diabetes-Induced Alteration of Photoreceptor Function
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a major therapeutic target for blood–retina barrier (BRB) breakdown in diabetic retinopathy (DR), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and other hypoxic retinal vascular disorders. To determine whether VEGF is a direct regulator of retinal neuronal fun...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Biomolecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/11/7/988 |
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| author | Jianyan Hu Meili Zhu Dai Li Qiang Wu Yun-Zheng Le |
| author_facet | Jianyan Hu Meili Zhu Dai Li Qiang Wu Yun-Zheng Le |
| author_sort | Jianyan Hu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a major therapeutic target for blood–retina barrier (BRB) breakdown in diabetic retinopathy (DR), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and other hypoxic retinal vascular disorders. To determine whether VEGF is a direct regulator of retinal neuronal function and its potential role in altering vision during the progression of DR, we examined the immediate impact of recombinant VEGF (rVEGF) on photoreceptor function with electroretinography in C57BL6 background wild-type (WT) and Akita spontaneous diabetic mice. Shortly after intravitreal injections, rVEGF caused a significant reduction of scotopic ERG a-wave and b-wave amplitudes and photopic ERG b-wave amplitudes in a dose-dependent manner in dark-adapted 1.5-mo-old WT mice. Compared with WT controls, 5-mo-old Akita spontaneous diabetic mice demonstrated a significant reduction in scotopic ERG a-wave and b-wave amplitudes and photopic ERG b-wave amplitudes. However, the effect of rVEGF altered photoreceptor function in WT controls was diminished in 5-mo-old Akita spontaneous diabetic mice. In conclusion, our results suggest that VEGF is a direct functional regulator of photoreceptors and VEGF up-regulation in DR is a contributing factor to diabetes-induced alteration of photoreceptor function. This information is critical to the understanding of the therapeutic effect and to the care of anti-VEGF drug-treated patients for BRB breakdown in DR, AMD, and other hypoxic retinal vascular disorders. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:44:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1425c73c96f84ad482a3bcf8f9d9bcf4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2218-273X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:44:41Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomolecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-1425c73c96f84ad482a3bcf8f9d9bcf42023-11-22T03:18:20ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2021-07-0111798810.3390/biom11070988VEGF as a Direct Functional Regulator of Photoreceptors and Contributing Factor to Diabetes-Induced Alteration of Photoreceptor FunctionJianyan Hu0Meili Zhu1Dai Li2Qiang Wu3Yun-Zheng Le4Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USASection of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USASection of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USADepartment of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai 200233, ChinaSection of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USAVascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a major therapeutic target for blood–retina barrier (BRB) breakdown in diabetic retinopathy (DR), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and other hypoxic retinal vascular disorders. To determine whether VEGF is a direct regulator of retinal neuronal function and its potential role in altering vision during the progression of DR, we examined the immediate impact of recombinant VEGF (rVEGF) on photoreceptor function with electroretinography in C57BL6 background wild-type (WT) and Akita spontaneous diabetic mice. Shortly after intravitreal injections, rVEGF caused a significant reduction of scotopic ERG a-wave and b-wave amplitudes and photopic ERG b-wave amplitudes in a dose-dependent manner in dark-adapted 1.5-mo-old WT mice. Compared with WT controls, 5-mo-old Akita spontaneous diabetic mice demonstrated a significant reduction in scotopic ERG a-wave and b-wave amplitudes and photopic ERG b-wave amplitudes. However, the effect of rVEGF altered photoreceptor function in WT controls was diminished in 5-mo-old Akita spontaneous diabetic mice. In conclusion, our results suggest that VEGF is a direct functional regulator of photoreceptors and VEGF up-regulation in DR is a contributing factor to diabetes-induced alteration of photoreceptor function. This information is critical to the understanding of the therapeutic effect and to the care of anti-VEGF drug-treated patients for BRB breakdown in DR, AMD, and other hypoxic retinal vascular disorders.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/11/7/988VEGFphotoreceptorsneuronal functionERGdiabetic retinopathy |
| spellingShingle | Jianyan Hu Meili Zhu Dai Li Qiang Wu Yun-Zheng Le VEGF as a Direct Functional Regulator of Photoreceptors and Contributing Factor to Diabetes-Induced Alteration of Photoreceptor Function Biomolecules VEGF photoreceptors neuronal function ERG diabetic retinopathy |
| title | VEGF as a Direct Functional Regulator of Photoreceptors and Contributing Factor to Diabetes-Induced Alteration of Photoreceptor Function |
| title_full | VEGF as a Direct Functional Regulator of Photoreceptors and Contributing Factor to Diabetes-Induced Alteration of Photoreceptor Function |
| title_fullStr | VEGF as a Direct Functional Regulator of Photoreceptors and Contributing Factor to Diabetes-Induced Alteration of Photoreceptor Function |
| title_full_unstemmed | VEGF as a Direct Functional Regulator of Photoreceptors and Contributing Factor to Diabetes-Induced Alteration of Photoreceptor Function |
| title_short | VEGF as a Direct Functional Regulator of Photoreceptors and Contributing Factor to Diabetes-Induced Alteration of Photoreceptor Function |
| title_sort | vegf as a direct functional regulator of photoreceptors and contributing factor to diabetes induced alteration of photoreceptor function |
| topic | VEGF photoreceptors neuronal function ERG diabetic retinopathy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/11/7/988 |
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