Long Non-Coding RNA of Myocardial Infarction Associated Transcript (LncRNA-MIAT) Promotes Diabetic Retinopathy by Upregulating Transforming Growth Factor-β1 (TGF-β1) Signaling

BACKGROUND: Long non-coding RNA of myocardial infarction associated transcript (lncRNA-MIAT) has a reported role in microvascular dysfunction. This study aimed to investigate the role of lncRNA-MIAT and its effects on transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) signaling in patients with diabetic retinopathy and in ARPE-19 adult retinal pigment epithelial cells in vitro. MATERIAL/METHODS: Study participants provided plasma samples and included patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (n=52), patients with diabetes without diabetic retinopathy (n=63), and healthy controls (n=56). Plasma levels of lncRNA-MIAT and TGF-β1 were detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Pearson correlation analysis was performed on the plasma data, and the diagnostic relevance of plasma levels of lncRNA-MIAT for diabetic retinopathy was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Cells of the human retinal pigment epithelial cell line, ARPE-19, were cultured in high glucose with construction and transfection of a MIAT expression plasmid vector. Viability of ARPE-19 cells was detected by the MTT assay and Western blot measured the expression levels of TGF-β1. RESULTS: Plasma levels of lncRNA-MIAT were significantly increased in patients with diabetic retinopathy compared with patients with diabetes without diabetic retinopathy and with healthy controls. ARPE-19 cells cultured in a high glucose environment showed reduced cell viability and upregulation of lncRNA-MIAT expression. CONCLUSIONS: Increased plasma levels of lncRNA-MIAT were significantly associated with the presence of diabetic retinopathy, and increased expression of lncRNA-MIAT reduced the viability of ARPE-19 cells in vitro by upregulating TGF-β1 signaling.