Regulatory Roles of Differentially Expressed MicroRNAs in Metabolic Processes in Negative Lens-Induced Myopia Guinea Pigs

Abstract

Myopia is one of the most common vision defects worldwide. microRNAs can regulate the target gene expressions, influencing the development of diseases. In order to investigate the alterations of microRNAs profiling in negative lens-induced myopia (NLIM) guinea pigs and to explore the regulatory role of microRNAs in the occurrence and the development of myopia, we first established the NLIM guinea pig model after induction for 2 weeks. Further, we isolated sclera to purify total messenger RNA (mRNA) in both NLIM and NLIM fellow sclera. Using next generation sequencing technique and bioinformatics analysis, we identified the differentially expressed microRNAs in NLIM guinea pigs, performed the bioinformatics annotation for the differentially expressed microRNAs, and validated the expressions of differentially expressed microRNAs. We successfully established a negative NLIM model in guinea pigs, identified 27 differentially expressed microRNAs in NLIM guinea pig sclera, including 10 upregulated and 17 downregulated microRNAs. The KEGG annotation showed the main signaling pathways were closely associated with PPAR signaling, pyruvate and propanoate metabolisms, and TGF-beta signaling pathways. In summary, we found the development of myopia is mainly involved in the disorder of metabolic processes in NLIM guinea pigs. The PPAR signaling, pyruvate and propanoate metabolism pathways may play roles in the development of myopia.

Relationship between Axial Length and Levels of TGF-β in the Aqueous Humor and Plasma of Myopic Patients

“…TGF-βs are part of a large family of polypeptides, playing important roles in cell growth and differentiation, wound healing, immune regulation [14], and the formation of ECM [15]. The TGF-β signaling pathway is closely associated with myopia in animal models [16]. For example, in form-deprivation myopia (FDM), the mouse TGF-β pathway is enriched in the eyes [17].…”