1. Academic Validation
  2. The ghrelin-GHSR-1a pathway inhibits high glucose-induced retinal angiogenesis in vitro by alleviating endoplasmic reticulum stress

The ghrelin-GHSR-1a pathway inhibits high glucose-induced retinal angiogenesis in vitro by alleviating endoplasmic reticulum stress

  • Eye Vis (Lond). 2022 Jun 7;9(1):20. doi: 10.1186/s40662-022-00291-5.
Rong Li 1 Guomin Yao 2 Lingxiao Zhou 2 Min Zhang 3 Jin Yan 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical University, No.48 West Fenghao Road, Xi'an, 710077, Shaanxi, China. rechelrong198222@163.com.
  • 2 Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical University, No.48 West Fenghao Road, Xi'an, 710077, Shaanxi, China.
  • 3 Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical University, No.48 West Fenghao Road, Xi'an, 710077, Shaanxi, China.
  • 4 College of Medical Technology of Xi'an Medical University, No.1 Xinwang Road, Xi'an, 710021, Shaanxi, China.
Abstract

Background: To investigate the effect of ghrelin, a brain-gut peptide hormone, on high glucose-induced retinal angiogenesis in vitro and explore its association with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress.

Methods: Human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs) were first divided into control and high-glucose groups, and the mRNA and protein expression levels of the receptor for ghrelin [growth hormone Secretin Receptor 1a, (GHSR-1a)] in cells were determined. HRMECs were then treated with high glucose alone or in combination with ghrelin or siGHSR-1a, and cell viability, migration, tube formation and the expression of the ER stress-related proteins PERK, ATF4 and CHOP were detected. Finally, to clarify whether the effects of ghrelin are related to ER stress, tunicamycin, an inducer of ER stress, was used to treat HRMECs, and cell viability, cell migration, and tube formation were evaluated.

Results: GHSR-1a expression in HRMECs at both the mRNA and protein levels was inhibited by high-glucose treatment. Under high-glucose conditions, ghrelin promoted cell viability and inhibited migration and tube formation, which were blocked by siGHSR-1a treatment. Ghrelin inhibited the increases in the protein levels of p-PERK, ATF4 and CHOP induced by high-glucose treatment, and combination treatment with siGHSR-1a reversed this effect of ghrelin. When tunicamycin was added, the effects of ghrelin on cell viability, migration and tube formation were all weakened.

Conclusions: This study experimentally revealed that ghrelin can inhibit high glucose-induced retinal angiogenesis in vitro through GHSR-1a, and alleviation of ER stress may be one of the mechanisms underlying this effect.

Keywords

Angiogenesis; Diabetic retinopathy; Endoplasmic reticulum stress; GHSR-1a; Ghrelin; Retinal neovascularization.

Figures
Products