MiR-9, miR-27 a, miR-34a, miR-146a, miR-155 microRNA expression in the retina during the development of retinopathy similar to age-related macular degeneration in OXYS rats

Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a complex neurodegenerative disease that becomes the main cause of central vision loss in people over 60 years of age. The development of AMD is controlled by a variety of interacting genetic and environmental factors that determine the form and rate of progression of the disease. Epigenetic mechanisms also significantly affect these parameters, including changes in microRNA expression patterns, the assessment of the circulating pool of which is considered as a promising approach to early diagnosis, prognosis of the course and evaluation of the effectiveness of AMD treatment. However, there is practically no information about the patterns of microRNA expression in the retina at different stages of AMD development, especially preclinical ones, and it can only be obtained using adequate biological models. The present study was performed on a line of OXYS rats (ICG SB RAS) - a unique model of premature aging, one of the manifestations of which is the development of a complex of key signs of AMD. Its purpose was to evaluate changes in the expression of a number of prognostically promising microRNAs (miR-9, miR-27a, miR-34a, miR-146a, miR-155) with age in the retina of Wistar rats (control) and OXYS with the development of AMD-like retinopathy. microRNA expression was evaluated by real-time PCR An increase in the level of miR-27a expression in the retina of OXYS rats was revealed with age and with the development of signs of retinopathy, which may contribute to the development of signs of AMD.