Fang, Rui, Li, Hai-Long, Lv, Ning-Xin, Yue, Pei-Lin, Jia, Yu-Xuan, Liu, Zhao-Chuan, Zhou, Hong-Gang, and Song, Xu-Dong
Accumulated evidence has shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) are closely related to the pathogenesis and progression of senile cataracts. Here we investigate the effect of miR-29a-3p in cataractogenesis and determined the potential molecular mechanism involved. In this study, we constructed a selenite cataract model in rats and obtained the miRNAs related to cataracts by whole transcriptome sequencing. To investigate the effect and mechanism of miR-29a-3p on cataracts, we performed several in vivo and in vitro experiments, including CCK8 assay, flow cytometry, luciferase reporter assay, Edu assay, and western blot analysis. Sequencing data showed downregulation of miR-29a-3p in rats with selenite cataracts. Down-regulation of miR-29a-3p could promote lens epithelial cells (SRA01/04) proliferation and inhibit cell apoptosis, and miR-29a-3p silence could inhibit the development of cataracts. Additionally, CAND1 was a direct target gene for miR-29a-3p. These data demonstrate that miR-29a-3p inhibits apoptosis of lens epithelial cells by regulating CAND1, which may be a potential target for senile cataracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]