title: Expression and regulation of microRNA-29a and microRNA-29c in early diabetic rat cataract formation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the role of microRNA (miRNA)-29a and miRNA-29c in the regulation of apoptosis in early rat diabetic cataract formation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used in the study. The expression level of miRNA-29a, miRNA-29c, and BCL2-modifying factor (BMF) in lens epithelial cells (LECs) samples were measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Prediction algorithms of miRanda, TargetScan 6.2, and mirRDB to perform a miRNA gene network analysis were used for the potential miRNA-29a and miRNA-29c targets.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The miRNA-29a and miRNA-29c expression levels were all significantly lower in the control group compared to the 2 and 4wk diabetic samples (P<0.01). The network analysis indicated that one miRNA-29a and miRNA-29c targets was BMF. There was significantly higher expression of BMF mRNA compared to the normal controls (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Apoptosis occurs in rat LECs following high blood glucose exposure. It is likely that apoptosis during diabetic cataract formation involves the decreased expression of miRNA-29a and miRNA-29c and the increased expression of BMF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China; Department of Ophthalmology, Second Hospital of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Chun-Mei
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Ke-Ke
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Shu-Bin
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Jian
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Li
keywords: BCL2-modifying factor; apoptosis; diabetic cataract; microRNA-29a; microRNA-29c