Reduced light exposure mitigates streptozotocin-induced vascular changes and gliosis in diabetic retina by an anti-inflammatory effect and increased retinal cholesterol turnover

• Published in: Chemico-biological interactions 2024-05, Vol.394, p.110996-110996, Article 110996
• Main Authors: Vasović, Dolika D., Ivković, Sanja, Živanović, Ana, Major, Tamara, Milašin, Jelena M., Nikolić, Nađa S., Simonović, Jelena M., Šutulović, Nikola, Hrnčić, Dragan, Stanojlović, Olivera, Vesković, Milena, Rašić, Dejan M., Mladenović, Dušan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Aquaporin 4; Aquaporin 4 - genetics; Aquaporin 4 - metabolism; Cholesterol - metabolism; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - complications; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - metabolism; Diabetic retina; Diabetic Retinopathy - metabolism; Diabetic Retinopathy - pathology; Gliosis - metabolism; Gliosis - pathology; Light; Male; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reduced daily light exposure; Retina - metabolism; Retina - pathology; Retina - radiation effects; Retinal Vessels - metabolism; Retinal Vessels - pathology; Streptozocin; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - genetics; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism; Visual cycle
• ISSN: 0009-2797; 1872-7786
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2024.110996

Diabetic retinopathy is not cured efficiently and changes of lifestyle measures may delay early retinal injury in diabetes. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of reduced daily light exposure on retinal vascular changes in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced model of DM with emphasis on inflammation, Aqp4 expression, visual cycle and cholesterol metabolism-related gene expression in rat retina and RPE. Male Wistar rats were divided into the following groups: 1. control; 2. diabetic group (DM) treated with streptozotocin (100 mg/kg); 3. group exposed to light/dark cycle 6/18 h (6/18); 4. diabetic group exposed to light/dark cycle 6/18 h (DM+6/18). Retinal vascular abnormalities were estimated based on lectin staining, while the expression of genes involved in the visual cycle, cholesterol metabolism, and inflammation was determined by qRT-PCR. Reduced light exposure alleviated vasculopathy, gliosis and the expression of IL-1 and TNF-α in the retina with increased perivascular Aqp4 expression. The expression of genes involved in visual cycle and cholesterol metabolism was significantly up-regulated in RPE in DM+6/18 vs. DM group. In the retina only the expression of APOE was significantly higher in DM+6/18 vs. DM group. Reduced light exposure mitigates vascular changes and gliosis in DM via its anti-inflammatory effect, increased retinal cholesterol turnover and perivascular Aqp4 expression. [Display omitted] •Reduced light exposure mitigates early vascular changes in diabetic retina.•Shortened light exposure exerts an anti-inflammatory effect in diabetic retina.•Perivascular Aqp4 expression is up-regulated by reduced light in diabetic retina.•Reduced light exposure accelerates cholesterol metabolism in diabetic retina.