title: CTGFsiRNA ameliorates retinal cells apoptosis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To detect the effect of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) on the apoptosis in the diabetic retina with small interfering RNAs (siRNA) targeting CTGF.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 60 rats were divided into 6 groups including control group, diabetic 4, 8, 12, 16 weeks groups, and interference group. Diabetic rats were induced by intraperitoneal streptozotocin (STZ). Retinas were obtained from control, diabetic rats and diabetic rats of interference group treated by intravitreal injection of CTGFsiRNA to suppress the expression of CTGF mRNA. Retinal cells apoptosis was detected by Tunnel staining and mRNA expression of CTGF was analyzed by RT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of CTGF and the apoptosis in the retinas of diabetic rats were significantly higher than those in the controls. Apoptosis occurred at 4 weeks after a diabetic model being set up, became serious with the diabetes developing, while CTGF elevated at 8 weeks. The apoptosis cell counts increased to 25.8cells/mm(2) at 24weeks of diabetes. SiRNA-mediated inhibition of CTGF mRNA resulted in a significant decrease in apoptosis. Significant correlations were found between CTGF and apoptosis in the retina.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was suggested that CTGF might be involved in retinal cells apoptosis which is a characteristic of early diabetic retina. SiRNA targeting CTGF seems to have the advantage of ameliorating retinal cells apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the Affiliated Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Wei
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xiao-Long
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhe-Li
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Li-Min
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Bu