Hoffmann, R. A wiki for the life sciences where authorship matters. Nature Genetics (2008)

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Ohashi, H. et al.

Alterations in expression of angiopoietins and the Tie-2 receptor in the retina of streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

PURPOSE: The angiopoietin (Ang)/Tie-2 system may play a role in vascular integrity and angiogenesis. In this study, we investigated alterations of the gene expression of Ang-1 and Ang-2 in the retinas of streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. METHODS: In situ hybridization, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot analyses were performed to determine the mRNA and protein content for Ang-1 and Ang-2 and the Tie2 receptor in the retinas of STZ diabetic and age matched control rats. RESULTS: Using in situ hybridization analysis, Ang-1, Ang-2, and Tie2 mRNA expression was observed in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) and the inner nuclear layer (INL). While Ang-2 mRNA expression did not changed after 2 weeks, 1 month, or 3 months of STZ induced diabetes, it was increased in the GCL and slightly elevated in the INL after 6 months of diabetes. In contrast, Ang-1 and Tie2 mRNA expression was stable at every timepoint during 6 months of STZ induced diabetes. RT-PCR and western blot analyses confirmed the increase of Ang-2 expression after 6 months of diabetes. Furthermore, double staining of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alphaSMA) and Ang-2 mRNA demonstrated that the SMA positive cells surrounding Ang-2-expressing cells were decreased in the GCL. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes increases Ang-2 expression in the GCL accompanied by a reduction of alphaSMA positive perivascular cells. These changes may suggest a role for Ang-2 in the mechanism of pericyte loss in diabetic retinopathy.[1]

References

Alterations in expression of angiopoietins and the Tie-2 receptor in the retina of streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Ohashi, H., Takagi, H., Koyama, S., Oh, H., Watanabe, D., Antonetti, D.A., Matsubara, T., Nagai, K., Arai, H., Kita, T., Honda, Y. Mol. Vis. (2004) [Pubmed]

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