title: Role of microRNA-29a in the development of diabetic retinopathy by targeting AGT gene in a rat model.
abstract: This study intends to explore the role of microRNA-29a (miRNA-29a) in the development of diabetic retinopathy by targeting AGT gene in a rat model.
  
  
  
  Fifty-six DR rat models were established and divided into 7 groups (with 8 rats in each group): the model group, the miRNA-29a group, the miRNA-29a knockdown group, the negative control (NC) group, the AGT group, the miRNA-29a+AGT group, and the miRNA-29a knockdown+AGT group respectively, while 8 normal rats were selected as the normal group. The qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of miRNA-29a and AGT mRNA. The AGT protein expression was measured using Western blotting. The ADPase histochemical staining was applied to detect retinal neo-vascular morphology. The number of retinal vascular endothelial cells was counted by H&E staining.
  
  
  
  MiRNA-29a and AGT mRNA expressions were negatively correlated. Compared with rats in the normal group, the miRNA-29a expression in DR rats of each group decreased, but the AGT mRNA and protein expression increased; the vascular distribution was in disorder, and the new retinal vessels, vascular density, and endothelial nuclei all increased. Compared with the model group, miRNA-29a increased, and the AGT mRNA and protein expression decreased in the miRNA-29a group; additionally, the vascular density, tortuosity, and endothelial cell nuclei significantly decreased. The opposite trend was found in the miRNA-29a knockdown group, the miRNA-29a knockdown+AGT group, and the AGT group, particularly in the miRNA-29a knockdown+AGT group.
  
  
  
  Overexpression of miRNA-29a could down-regulate AGT expression, thereby preventing the development of DR in a rat model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, PR China. Electronic address: drqiong60@163.com.
authors.forename: Li-Qiong
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, PR China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, PR China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, PR China.
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, PR China.
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D000808:Angiotensinogen / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000235:genetics*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: C534933:Agt protein, rat; D001786:Blood Glucose; C526366:MIRN29 microRNA, rat; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000808:Angiotensinogen
keywords: Angiotensinogen; Diabetic retinopathy; Endothelial cell nucleus; MicroRNA-29a; Rat model; Retinal neovascularization; Vascular density