Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41254671›Full record

ArticleJournal of translational medicine2025

ELF3-regulated PES1 targets VEGFR2 to mediate angiogenesis and retinal inner barrier injury in diabetic retinopathy.

Sha Liu, Jingjing Hou, Yulin Tao, Yi Xu, Jinghui Liu, Siyu Lin, Liming Tao, Zhengxuan Jiang

Abstract read
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Article in Journal of translational medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Sha Liu *Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, 230000, China.
Jingjing Hou *Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, 230000, China.
Yulin TaoDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, 230000, China.
Yi XuDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, 230000, China.
Jinghui LiuDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, 230000, China.
Siyu LinDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, 230000, China.
Liming TaoDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, 230000, China. lmtao@163.com.
Zhengxuan JiangDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, 230000, China. jiangzhengxuan@ahmu.edu.cn.ORCID 0000-0001-7620-8658

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAngiogenesis and increased vascular permeability caused by endothelial cell dysfunction are crucial in diabetic retinopathy (DR). Pescadillo ribosomal biogenesis factor 1 (PES1) plays key roles in diabetes; however, its effect on DR has not been thoroughly investigated. This study evaluated the role of PES1 in angiogenesis and blood-retinal barrier functions of DR and explored the related regulatory mechanisms.

methodsIntegrated bulk RNA-seq and single-cell RNA-seq analyses were used to identify the key molecular target PES1 in this study. Western blot, scratch assay, tube formation assay, transwell, EdU proliferation assay, immunofluorescence, Evans Blue assay, PAS staining and H&E staining were used to detect the role of PES1 in angiogenesis and retinal barrier injury in vivo and in vitro, respectively. ChIP-seq was used to explore the regulatory mechanism.

resultsIntegrated bulk RNA-seq and single-cell RNA-seq analyses revealed that high PES1 expression was significantly associated with DR. Under hyperglycemia conditions, elevated PES1 expression disrupted the retinal vascular barrier function and exacerbated vascular leakage and DR progression by inhibiting the expression of VE-cadherin and Occludin. Moreover, PES1 aggravated the imbalance between oxidation and anti-oxidation, leading to an excessive release of reactive oxygen species and further impairment of endothelial cell function. These biological processes were reversed by PES1-targeted siRNA/shRNA. Mechanistically, PES1 bound to the enhancer of VEGFR2 to regulate VEGFR2 mRNA expression, thereby influencing tube formation capacity and permeability of endothelial cells. Under diabetic conditions, PES1 upregulation was regulated by ELF3 binding to its promoter.

conclusionsOur study confirmed that the ELF3/PES1/VEGFR2 signaling pathway is crucial for regulating retinal angiogenesis and blood-retinal barrier function in DR. Interventions targeting ELF3 or PES1 may serve as potential therapeutic strategies for DR.

Indexed as

Blood-Retinal BarrierDiabetic RetinopathyDNA-Binding ProteinsNeovascularization, PathologicRetinaRNA-Binding ProteinsTranscription FactorsVascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2AngiogenesisAnimalsHumansHuman Umbilical Vein Endothelial CellsMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLDNA-Binding ProteinsRNA-Binding ProteinsTranscription FactorsVascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2Diabetic retinopathyELF3Endothelial cell dysfunctionPES1VEGFR2

Identifiers

PMID41254671
PMCPMC12625574

What Socratic holds

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.