title: microRNA-218 Inhibits Oxygen-induced Retinal Neovascularization via Reducing the Expression of Roundabout 1.
abstract: The mechanisms of pathological retinal neovascularization (RNV) remain unknown. Several microRNAs were reported to be involved in the process of RNV. Oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) is a useful model to investigate RNV. Our present work explored the expression and the role of microRNA-128 (miR-218) in oxygen-induced RNV.
  
  
  
  OIR was used to establish RNV model. The expression level of miR-218 in the retina from OIR mice was assessed by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Fluorescein angiography was performed in retinae of OIR mice, and RNV was quantified by hematoxylin and eosin staining to evaluate the effect of pCDH-CMV-miR-218 intravitreal injection on RNV in OIR mice. Roundabout 1 (Robo1) expression was detected by Western blotting in mouse retinal vascular endothelial cells expressing a high or low level of miR-218 and retinal tissues from OIR mice. Cell migration was evaluated by scratch wound assay.
  
  
  
  In OIR mice, the expression level of miR-218 was significantly down-regulated (P = 0.006). Retinal Robo1 expression was significantly increased at both mRNA and protein levels (P = 0.001, 0.008; respectively). miR-218 intravitreal injection inhibited retinal angiogenesis in OIR mice, and the restoration of miR-218 in retina led to down-regulation of Robo1.
  
  
  
  Our experiments showed that restoration of miR-218 inhibited retinal angiogenesis via targeting Robo1. MiR-218 contributed to the inhibition of retinal angiogenesis and miR-218 might be a new therapeutic target for preventing RNV.
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of General Ophthalmology, Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Eye Institute, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin 300020, China.
authors.forename: Yi-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Bei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Quan-Hong
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yu-Chuan
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000502:physiology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000502:physiology*; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000097905:Roundabout Proteins
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010100:Oxygen; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D000097905:Roundabout Proteins; C547684:MIRN218 microRNA, mouse