Silencing of circular RNA‑ZYG11B exerts a neuroprotective effect against retinal neurodegeneration

Ma,Cong; Yao,Mu-Di; Han,Xiao-Yan; Shi,Ze-Hui; Yan,Biao; Du,Jian-Ling

doi:10.3892/ijmm.2022.5162

Silencing of circular RNA‑ZYG11B exerts a neuroprotective effect against retinal neurodegeneration

Authors:
- Cong Ma
- Mu-Di Yao
- Xiao-Yan Han
- Ze-Hui Shi
- Biao Yan
- Jian-Ling Du
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Affiliations: Department of Endocrinology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 116011, P.R. China, Eye Institute, Eye & ENT Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200030, P.R. China, Eye Institute, Eye & ENT Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200030, P.R. China, Department of Endocrinology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 116011, P.R. China
Published online on: June 21, 2022 https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2022.5162
Article Number: 106
Copyright: © Ma et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Ischemic retinal diseases are the major cause of vision impairment worldwide. Currently, there are no available treatments for ischemia‑induced retinal neurodegeneration. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have emerged as important regulators of several biological processes and human diseases. The present study investigated the role of circRNA‑ZYG11B (circZYG11B; hsa_circ_0003739) in retinal neurodegeneration. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‑qPCR) demonstrated that circZYG11B expression was markedly increased during retinal neurodegeneration in vivo and in vitro. Cell Counting Kit‑8, TUNEL and caspase‑3 activity assays revealed that silencing of circZYG11B was able to protect against oxidative stress‑ or hypoxic stress‑induced retinal ganglion cell (RGC) injury. Furthermore, immunofluorescence staining and hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed that silencing of circZYG11B alleviated ischemia/reperfusion‑induced retinal neurodegeneration, as indicated by reduced RGC injury and decreased retinal reactive gliosis. In addition, luciferase reporter, biotin‑coupled miRNA capture and RNA immunoprecipitation assays revealed that circZYG11B could regulate RGC function through circZYG11B/microRNA‑620/PTEN signaling. Clinically, RT‑qPCR assays demonstrated that circZYG11B expression was markedly increased in the aqueous humor of patients with glaucoma. In conclusion, circZYG11B may be considered a promising target for the diagnosis and treatment of retinal ischemic diseases.

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