ObjectiveTo observe RNA-Seq analysis of gene expression profiling in human retinal vascular endothelial cells after anti-vascular endothecial growth factor (VEGF) treatment.MethodsCultured the retinal vascular endothelial cells in vitro and logarithmic growth phase cells were used for experiments. The cells were divided into VEGF group and VEGF combined with anti-VEGF drugs group. The VEGF group cells were treated with 50 ng/ml VEGF for 72 h to simulate the high VEGF survival conditions of vascular endothelial cells in diabetic retinopathy. VEGF combined with anti-VEGF drug group cells was treated with 50 ng/ml VEGF and 2.5 μg/ml anti-VEGF drugs for 72 h to imitate the microenvironment of cells following the anti-VEGF drugs treatment, and whole transcriptome sequencing approach was applied to the above two groups of cells through RNA-Seq. Now with biological big data obtained as a basis, to analyze the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). And through enrichment analysis to explain the differential functions of DEGs and their signal pathways.ResultsThe gene expression profiles of the two groups of cells were obtained. Through analysis, 328 DEGs were found, including 194 upregulated and 133 downregulated ones. The functions of DEGs were influenced by regulations over molecular biological process, cellular energy metabolism and protein synthesis, etc. Among these genes, SI,PRX and HPGD were related to protein synthesis, BIRCT to cellular apoptosis, and ABLIM1 and CRB2 to retinal development, and ABCG1, ABCA9 and ABCA12 were associated with the cholesterol of macrophage and the transfer of phospholipid. GO enrichment analysis showed that DEGs mainly act in three ways: regulating biological behavior, organizing cellular component and performing molecular function. Pathway enrichment analysis showed that gene expressions of the two cell groups were differentiated in ECM receptor pathway, and Notch, mitogen-activated protein kinase, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and Wnt signal pathways. Among them, the gene expression in TGF-β signal pathway attracts most attention, where the DEGs, such as CAMK2B, COL3A1, CYGB, PTGER2 and HS6ST2, among others, were closely related to fibrosis process.ConclusionThe anti-VEGF drugs may enhance the expression of CAMK2B, COL3A1, CYGB, PTGER2 and others genes related to TGF-β signal pathway and aggravate retinal fibrosis disease.
ObjectiveTo construct the connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) recombinant interference vector (shRNA) and observe its inhibitory effect on the expression of endogenous CTGF in retinal vascular endothelial cells. Methods The human CTGF shRNA was constructed and the high-titer CTGF shRNA lentivirus particles was acquired via three-plasmid lentivirus packaging system to infect retinal vascular endothelial cells. The optimal multiplicity and onset time of lentivirus infection were identified by tracing down the red florescent protein in interference vector. The cells were classified into three groups: blank control group, infection control group and CTGF knockdown group. The differences in cells migrating ability was observed through Transwell allay. The mRNA and protein expression of CTGF, fibronectin, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen Ⅰ (Col Ⅰ) were quantified through real-time PCR testing and Western blot system. Data between the three groups were examined via one-way analysis of variance. ResultsThe result showed that an optimal multiplicity of 20 and onset time of 72 hours were the requirements to optimize lentivirus infection. Transwell allay result showed a contrast in the number of migrated cells in the CTGF knockdown group and that in the blank control group and infection control group (F=20.64, P=0.002). Real-time PCR testing showed a contrast in related gene expression (CTGF, fibronectin, α-SMA and Col Ⅰ) in the CTGF knocked-down group and that in the blank control group and infection control group (F=128.83, 124.44, 144.76, 1 374.44; P=0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000). Western blot system showed the statistical significance of the contrasted number of related protein expression (CTGF, fibronectin, α-SMA and Col Ⅰ) in the knockdown group and that in the blank control group (F=22.55, 41.60, 25.73, 161.68; P=0.002, 0.000, 0.001, 0.000). ConclusionThe success in producing CTGF shRNA lentivirus particle suggests that CTGF shRNA lentivirus can effectively knock down CTGF expression.
ObjectivesTo explore the changes of some peripheral blood cells related to inflammation in patients with non-arteritis central retinal artery occlusion (NA-CRAO). MethodsA retrospective clinical study. From July 2019 to July 2021, a total of 218 patients with NA-CRAO hospitalized (NA-CRAO group) in Department of Ophthalmology, Xi'an People's Hospital (Xi'an Fourth Hospital) and 218 patients with routine physical examination (control group) during the same period were included in the study. There were no significant differences in age (t=0.60), sex composition ratio (χ2=0.83) and body mass index (t=0.77) between the two groups (P＞0.05). 0.2 ml fasting peripheral blood was collected from the subject, and white blood cells (WBC), neutrophils (NEUT), lymphocytes (LYMPH), red blood cells (RBC), RBC distribution width (RDW), platelets (PLT), mean PLT volume (MPV), and large PLT ratio (PLCR) were detected. The NEUT/LYMPH ratio (NLR) and PLT/LYMPH ratio (PLR) were calculated. t test was used to compare measurement data between groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed for blood cells with P＜0.05. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) was used to calculate the area under the curve (AUC) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) of each inflammatory indicator, and the optimal cutoff value was determined according to the Jorden index (sensitivity+specificity－1). ResultsCompared with control group, WBC, NEUT, NLR, RDW, PLR were increased in NA-CRAO group, while RBC and LYMPH were decreased, with statistical significance (t=9.68, 12.43, 9.47, 3.64, 5.54, 5.18, 0.46; P＜0.001). There was no significant difference in PLT, MPV and PLCR between the two groups (t=0.32, 1.56, 0.84; P＞0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that NLR was a possible risk factor for the occurrence of NA-CRAO (odds ratio=2.51, 95%CI 0.780-0.859, P=0.031). ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC predicted by NLR was 0.819, the optimal critical value was 3.05, and the sensitivity and specificity were 59.2% and 92.7%, respectively. ConclusionsIn peripheral blood cells of NA-CRAO patients, NEUT is significantly increased and LYMPH is decreased. NLR is a possible risk factor for NA-CRAO.
Objective To observe the clinical and imaging features of non-arteriotic central retinal artery occlusion (NA-CRAO) with internal boundary membrane detachment (ILMD), and to analyze its relationship with visual prognosis. MethodsA retrospective clinical study. A total of 88 patients with NA-CRAO hospitalized in Department of Ophtalmology, Xi'an People's Hospital (Xi'an Fourth Hospital) from January 2014 to June 2023 were included in the study. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA) were performed. The BCVA test used the international standard visual acuity chart, which was statistically converted to the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity. OCT observed the presence of ILMD and the thickening of the inner retina and the disappearance of anatomical stratification. FFA recorded arm-retinal circulation time (A-Rct) and retinal arterion-distal filling time (FT), and observed ciliary retinal artery, fluorescein retrograde filling, cotton spots, luciferin nodal filling, macular non-perfusion, capillary fluorescein leakage, optic disc strong fluorescence, choroidal background weak fluorescence and other characteristics. According to whether there was ILMD, the patients were divided into ILMD group and non-ILMD group, with 44 cases and 44 eyes respectively. The two groups received the same treatment. The follow-up time was 30 days after treatment. The clinical, FFA characteristics and BCVA before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. t-test was used for comparison between groups. ResultsIn ILMD group and non-ILMD group, there were 43 cases of male and 1 case of female, respectively, and the proportion of male was significantly higher than that of female. Before and after treatment, the logMAR BCVA of ILMD group and non-ILMD group were 2.35±0.42, 2.01±0.46, 1.47±0.60, 0.77±0.49, respectively. There were significant differences in logMAR BCVA between the two groups before and after treatment (t=8.025, 12.358; P＜0.001). Before treatment, A-Rct and FT in ILMD group were longer than those in non-ILMD group, and the difference was statistically significant (t=3.052, 3.385; P＜0.05). After treatment, there was no significant difference (t=1.040, 1.447; P＞0.05). The proportion of ciliary retinal artery and cotton plaque in ILMD group was lower than that in non-ILMD group. There was no significant difference in ciliary retinal artery between the two groups (χ2=－0.961, P＞0.05), but there was a significant difference in cotton wool plaque between the two groups (χ2=－3.364, P＜0.05). Compared to the non-ILMD group, The proportion of retrograde fluorescein filling in retinal artery (χ2=－2.846), segment filling (χ2=－3.907), macular non-perfusion (χ2=－6.656), capillary fluorescein leakage (χ2=－4.367), optic disc strong fluorescence (χ2=－3.525) and choroidal background weak fluorescence (χ2=－2.276) increased, the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05). ConclusionsIn patients with NA-CRAO, compared with those without ILMD, those with ILMD have more severe retinal ischemia and worse BCVA before and after treatment. ILMD is one of the poor prognostic markers of NA-CRAO vision.