TY - JOUR
T1 - Minocycline reduces proinflammatory cytokine expression, microglial activation, and caspase-3 activation in a rodent model of diabetic retinopathy
AU - Krady, J. Kyle
AU - Basu, Anirban
AU - Allen, Colleen M.
AU - Xu, Yuping
AU - LaNoue, Kathryn F.
AU - Gardner, Thomas W.
AU - Levison, Steven W.
PY - 2005/5
Y1 - 2005/5
N2 - Diabetes leads to vascular leakage, glial dysfunction, and neuronal apoptosis within the retina. The goal of the studies reported here was to determine the role that retinal microglial cells play in diabetic retinopathy and assess whether minocycline can decrease microglial activation and alleviate retinal complications. Immunohistochemical analyses showed that retinal microglia are activated early in diabetes. Furthermore, mRNAs for interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α, proinflammatory mediators known to be released from microglia, are also increased in the retina early in the course of diabetes. Using an in vitro bioassay, we demonstrated that cytokine-activated microglia release cytotoxins that kill retinal neurons. Furthermore, we showed that neuronal apoptosis is increased in the diabetic retina, as measured by caspase-3 activity. Minocycline represses diabetes-induced inflammatory cytokine production, reduces the release of cytotoxins from activated microglia, and significantly reduces measurable caspase-3 activity within the retina. These results indicate that inhibiting microglial activity may be an important strategy in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy and that drugs such as minocycline hold promise in delaying or preventing the loss of vision associated with this disease.
AB - Diabetes leads to vascular leakage, glial dysfunction, and neuronal apoptosis within the retina. The goal of the studies reported here was to determine the role that retinal microglial cells play in diabetic retinopathy and assess whether minocycline can decrease microglial activation and alleviate retinal complications. Immunohistochemical analyses showed that retinal microglia are activated early in diabetes. Furthermore, mRNAs for interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α, proinflammatory mediators known to be released from microglia, are also increased in the retina early in the course of diabetes. Using an in vitro bioassay, we demonstrated that cytokine-activated microglia release cytotoxins that kill retinal neurons. Furthermore, we showed that neuronal apoptosis is increased in the diabetic retina, as measured by caspase-3 activity. Minocycline represses diabetes-induced inflammatory cytokine production, reduces the release of cytotoxins from activated microglia, and significantly reduces measurable caspase-3 activity within the retina. These results indicate that inhibiting microglial activity may be an important strategy in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy and that drugs such as minocycline hold promise in delaying or preventing the loss of vision associated with this disease.
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U2 - 10.2337/diabetes.54.5.1559
DO - 10.2337/diabetes.54.5.1559
M3 - Article
C2 - 15855346
AN - SCOPUS:17844392902
VL - 54
SP - 1559
EP - 1565
JO - Diabetes
JF - Diabetes
SN - 0012-1797
IS - 5
ER -