Protective effect of small interfering RNA targeting HIF-1α in retina of diabetic retinopathy mice and its mechanism

AIM: To investigate the protective effect of small interfering RNA targeting HIF-1α in retina of diabetic retinopathy mice and its mechanism. METHODS: Totally 40 C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into the normal group, diabetes group, siRNA-HIF-1α group and siRNA-NC group. The diabetic models were constructed. The histopathological change of the retina of the mice was observed in each group. The microvessel density(MVD)was detected by immunohistochemistry. The expressions of HIF-1α, VEGF,NF-κB, IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA in the retina in each group were detected by real-time quantitative PCR. The expressions of HIF-1α, ET-1 and vWF proteins in the retina in each group were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: The body weights of diabetes group, siRNA-NC group and siRNA-HIF-1α group were lower than the normal group, while the blood glucose levels were higher than the normal group(All PPPPCONCLUSION: Specific silencing of HIF-1α gene could protect the retina of DR. The mechanism may be related to the reduction of angiogenesis and vascular endothelial injury.