Establishment of human retinal mitoscriptome gene expression signature for diabetic retinopathy using cadaver eyes

- First study to establish a human retinal mitoscriptome gene expression signature for DR using human cadaver eye retinas.
- Among 1042 genes, 60 genes (8-up and 52-down regulated) were differentially regulated in DR as compared to control retina.
- In diabetic retina, 38 genes (8-up and 30-down regulated) were differentially expressed as compared to control retina.
- DR showed 39 genes (3-up and 36-down regulated) were differentially expressed compared to diabetic retina.
- The most differentially expressed genes were CASP8, COX11, FECH, SLC25A34, COX17 and AGXT2 might regulate DR pathogenesis.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of blindness due to retinal microvasculature. We used microarray analysis for the first time to establish the retinal mitoscriptome gene expression signature for DR using human cadaver eyes. Among the 1042 genes, 60 (52-down, 8-up) and 39 (36-down, 3-up) genes were differentially expressed in the DR as compared to normal control and diabetic retinas respectively. These genes were mainly responsible for regulating angiogenesis, anti-oxidant defense mechanism, ATP production and apoptosis contributing to the disease pathology of DR. These findings might be useful for the discovery of biomarker and developing therapeutic regimen.