Open Access

Autophagy positively regulates Wnt signaling in mice with diabetic retinopathy

  • Authors:
    • Sihao Ye
    • Yuhan Zhang
    • Xin Wang
    • Xu Liang
    • Mingyan Wei
    • Rongrong Zong
    • Zuguo Liu
    • Qian Chen
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: August 12, 2021     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.10598
  • Article Number: 1164
  • Copyright: © Ye et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a microvascular complication of diabetes. Aberrant Wnt signaling activation plays a pathological role in DR. However, the underlying mechanisms of aberrant Wnt signaling in DR remain unknown. Autophagy has been reported to be involved in the pathophysiology of DR. The present study aimed therefore to investigate the regulatory effects of autophagy on Wnt signaling in DR. Wnt signaling was activated in the retina of db/db mice combined with an increase in the expression of the autophagic proteins microtubule‑associated protein 1A/1B‑light chain 3 and beclin‑1 and a decrease in the expression of the autophagic protein P62. Inhibition of autophagy by 3‑methyladenin decreased Wnt signaling in diabetic retinas, indicating a potential association between Wnt signaling and autophagy. Rapamycin, an autophagy inducer, upregulated Wnt signaling in the retina of normal C57BL/6J mice. In cultured Müller cells, rapamycin induced autophagy and activated Wnt signaling, while chloroquine, an autophagy inhibitor, inhibited autophagy and downregulated Wnt signaling, suggesting that autophagy could regulate Wnt signaling in mice retina and retinal cells. In summary, this study demonstrated that autophagy may positively regulate Wnt signaling in diabetic retinas, indicating a potential mechanism of Wnt signaling upregulation in DR and a possible novel therapeutic target of DR.
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October-2021
Volume 22 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Ye S, Zhang Y, Wang X, Liang X, Wei M, Zong R, Liu Z and Chen Q: Autophagy positively regulates Wnt signaling in mice with diabetic retinopathy. Exp Ther Med 22: 1164, 2021
APA
Ye, S., Zhang, Y., Wang, X., Liang, X., Wei, M., Zong, R. ... Chen, Q. (2021). Autophagy positively regulates Wnt signaling in mice with diabetic retinopathy. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 22, 1164. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.10598
MLA
Ye, S., Zhang, Y., Wang, X., Liang, X., Wei, M., Zong, R., Liu, Z., Chen, Q."Autophagy positively regulates Wnt signaling in mice with diabetic retinopathy". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 22.4 (2021): 1164.
Chicago
Ye, S., Zhang, Y., Wang, X., Liang, X., Wei, M., Zong, R., Liu, Z., Chen, Q."Autophagy positively regulates Wnt signaling in mice with diabetic retinopathy". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 22, no. 4 (2021): 1164. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.10598