Abstract

Astrocytes (AC) are the most abundant cells in the central nervous system. In the retina, astrocytes play important roles in the development and integrity of the retinal neurovasculature. Astrocytes dysfunction contributes to pathogenesis of a variety of neurovascular diseases including diabetic retinopathy. Recent studies have demonstrated the expression of Cyp1b1 in the neurovascular cells of the central nervous system including AC. We recently showed retinal AC constitutively express Cyp1b1, and global Cyp1b1-deficiency (Cyp1b1-/-) attenuates retinal ischemia-mediated neovascularization in vivo and the pro-angiogenic activity of retinal vascular cells in vitro. We also demonstrated that Cyp1b1 expression is a key regulator of retinal AC function. However, the underlying mechanisms involved need further investigation. Here we determined changes in the transcriptome profiles of Cyp1b1+/+ and Cyp1b1-/- retinal AC by RNA sequencing. We identified 585 differentially expressed genes, whose pathway enrichment analysis revealed the most significant pathways impacted in Cyp1b1-/- AC. These genes included those of axon guidance, extracellular matrix proteins and their receptors, cancer, cell adhesion molecules, TGF-β signaling, and the focal adhesion modulation. The expression of a selected set of differentially expressed genes was confirmed by RT-qPCR analysis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of RNAseq investigation of the retinal AC transcriptome and the molecular pathways impacted by Cyp1b1 expression. These results demonstrated an important role for Cyp1b1 expression in the regulation of various retinal AC functions, which are important in neurovascular development and integrity.

Highlights

  • ObjectivesThe purpose of the current study was to utilize this powerful technique to delineate the detailed molecular mechanisms of Cyp1b1 action in retinal AC by determining the changes in patterns of gene expression networks impacted by Cyp1b1 expression

  • The cytochrome P450 superfamily consists of many heme-containing monooxygenases

  • In order to investigate the impact of Cyp1b1 expression on the transcriptome profile of retinal AC, we performed RNAseq analysis of Cyp1b1+/+ and Cyp1b1-/- AC

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Summary

Objectives

The purpose of the current study was to utilize this powerful technique to delineate the detailed molecular mechanisms of Cyp1b1 action in retinal AC by determining the changes in patterns of gene expression networks impacted by Cyp1b1 expression

Methods
Results
Conclusion

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