PGF(2α) facilitates pathological retinal angiogenesis by modulating endothelial FOS‐driven ELR (+) CXC chemokine expression

The pathological retinal angiogenesis often causes blindness. Current anti‐angiogenic therapy for proliferative retinopathy targets the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), but many patients do not radically benefit from this therapy. Herein, we report that circulating prostaglandin (PG) F(2α) metabolites were increased in type 2 diabetic patients with proliferative retinopathy, and the PGF(2α) receptor (Ptgfr) was upregulated in retinal endothelial cells (ECs) from a mouse model of oxygen‐induced retinopathy (OIR). Further, disruption of the PTGFR receptor in ECs attenuated OIR in mice. PGF(2α) promoted the proliferation and tube formation of human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs) via the release of ELR(+) CXC chemokines, such as CXCL8 and CXCL2. Mechanistically, the PGF(2α)/PTGFR axis potentiated ELR(+) CXC chemokine expression in HRMECs through the G(q)/CAMK2G/p38/ELK‐1/FOS pathway. Upregulated FOS‐mediated ELR(+) CXC chemokine expression was observed in retinal ECs from PDR patients. Moreover, treatment with PTGFR inhibitor lessened the development of OIR in mice in a CXCR2‐dependent manner. Therefore, inhibition of PTGFR may represent a new avenue for the treatment of retinal neovascularization, particularly in PDR.