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MEDTECH Diabetes Disrupts Retinal Transcriptome Rhythmicity: A Step Towards New DR Treatments
A recent study has shed light on the intricate relationship between diabetes and retinal health, revealing how diabetes can disrupt the circadian rhythm of the transcriptomic profile in retinas. This research not only deepens our understanding of diabetic retinopathy (DR), a common complication of diabetes, but also paves the way for potential new treatments.
Study Design
- The study utilized C57BL/6J mice to establish a diabetes model via intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ).
- After 12 weeks, retinas were collected continuously at 4-hour intervals over a day.
- Total RNA was extracted from both normal and STZ-treated retinas, followed by RNA sequencing.
- Various algorithms and analyses were employed to identify, analyze, and annotate the rhythmic transcripts in retinas.
According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 422 million adults were living with diabetes in 2014, compared to 108 million in 1980. The global prevalence (age-standardized) of diabetes has nearly doubled since 1980, rising from 4.7% to 8.5% in the adult population.
Key Findings
- The retina exhibited strong transcriptome rhythmicity.
- STZ-induced diabetes significantly altered the characteristics of the circadian transcriptome in the retina, including its composition, phase, and amplitude.
- Diabetes led to re-organized temporal and clustering enrichment pathways in space and time and affected core clock machinery.
- The study concludes that diabetes impairs the circadian rhythm of the transcriptomic profile of retinas.
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