RNA-Seq analysis of gene expression profiling in human retinal vascular endothelial cells after anti-vascular endothecial growth factor treatment / 中华眼底病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe RNA-Seq analysis of gene expression profiling in human retinal vascular endothelial cells after anti-vascular endothecial growth factor (VEGF) treatment.Methods Cultured the retinal vascular endothelial cells in vitro and logarithmic growth phase cells were used for experiments.The cells were divided into VEGF group and VEGF combined with anti-VEGF drugs group.The VEGF group cells were treated with 50 ng/ml VEGF for 72 h to simulate the high VEGF survival conditions of vascular endothelial cells in diabetic retinopathy.VEGF combined with anti-VEGF drug group cells was treated with 50 ng/ml VEGF and 2.5 μg/ml anti-VEGF drugs for 72 h to imitate the microenvironment of cells following the anti-VEGF drugs treatment,and whole transcriptome sequencing approach was applied to the above two groups of cells through RNA-Seq.Now with biological big data obtained as a basis,to analyze the differentially expressed genes (DEGs).And through enrichment analysis to explain the differential functions of DEGs and their signal pathways.Results The gene expression profiles of the two groups of cells were obtained.Through analysis,328 DEGs were found,including 194 upregulated and 133 downregulated ones.The functions of DEGs were influenced by regulations over molecular biological process,cellular energy metabolism and protein synthesis,etc.Among these genes,SI,PRX and HPGD were related to protein synthesis,BIRCT to cellular apoptosis,and ABLIM 1 and CRB2 to retinal development,and ABCG 1,ABCA9 and ABCA12 were associated with the cholesterol of macrophage and the transfer of phospholipid.GO enrichment analysis showed that DEGs mainly act in three waysregulating biological behavior,organizing cellular component and performing molecular function.Pathway enrichment analysis showed that gene expressions of the two cell groups were differentiated in ECM receptor pathway,and Notch,mitogen-activated protein kinase,transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and Wnt signal pathways.Among them,the gene expression in TGF-β signal pathway attracts most attention,where the DEGs,such as CAMK2B,COL3A1,CYGB,PTGER2 and HS6ST2,among others,were closely related to fibrosis process.Conclusion The anti-VEGF drugs may enhance the expression ofCAMK2B,COL3A1,CYGB,PTGER2 and others genes related to TGF-β signal pathway and aggravate retinal fibrosis disease.