title: The PI3K/Akt signaling pathway mediates the high glucose-induced expression of extracellular matrix molecules in human retinal pigment epithelial cells.
abstract: Prolonged hyperglycemia is an important risk factor of the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Extracellular matrix molecules, such as fibronectin, collagen IV, and laminin, are associated with fibrotic membranes. In this study, we investigated the expression of fibronectin, collagen IV, and laminin in RPE cells under high glucose conditions. Furthermore, we also detected the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt) under high glucose conditions in RPE cells. Our results showed that high glucose upregulated fibronectin, collagen IV, and laminin expression, and activated Akt in RPE cells. We also found that pretreatment with LY294002 (an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase) abolished high glucose-induced expression of fibronectin, collagen IV, and laminin in RPE cells. Thus, high glucose induced the expression of fibronectin, collagen IV, and laminin through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in RPE cells, and the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway may contribute to the formation of fibrotic membrane during the development of DR.
authors.affiliation: Henan Eye Institute, Henan Provincial Eye Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, China ; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shenzhen Eye Hospital and Jinan University, Shenzhen 518040, China ; Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200080, China.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shenzhen Eye Hospital and Jinan University, Shenzhen 518040, China.
authors.forename: Guo-Ming
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200080, China.
authors.forename: Xun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Henan Eye Institute, Henan Provincial Eye Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, China.
authors.forename: Li-Ya
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007797:Laminin / Q000378:metabolism; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D024141:Collagen Type IV; D005353:Fibronectins; D007797:Laminin; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D005947:Glucose