Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42461929›Full record

ArticleDiabetes2026

Long-Acting RXR Agonism Preserves Retinal Function and Modulates Inflammation in Diabetic Retinopathy.

Emory Johnson, Ehsan Kaffash, Fadeela Sheini, Ashley Rennhack, Micheli Severo Sielski, Assylbek Zhylkibayev, Sergio Li Calzi, Sagun Poudel, Venkatram Atigadda, Qingguo Xu and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Diabetes, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Emory JohnsonDepartment of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.
Ehsan KaffashDepartment of Pharmaceutics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, Richmond, VA.
Fadeela SheiniDepartment of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.
Ashley RennhackDepartment of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.
Micheli Severo SielskiDepartment of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.
Assylbek ZhylkibayevDepartment of Biochemistry, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC.
Sergio Li CalziDepartment of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.
Sagun PoudelDepartment of Pharmaceutics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, Richmond, VA.
Venkatram AtigaddaDepartment of Dermatology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.
Qingguo XuDepartment of Pharmaceutics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, Richmond, VA.
Maria B GrantDepartment of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.ORCID 0000-0002-6470-0255
Marina S GorbatyukDepartment of Biochemistry, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC.ORCID 0000-0001-9060-856X

Funding

Development of Potent and non-toxic rexinoids to prevent non-melanoma skin cancerR01CA276683 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · PI Venkatram Reddy Atigadda · 2023 to 2026
$2.4M
RXR-based therapy for diabetic retinopathyR01EY035539 · NEI · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · PI Marina Gorbatyuk, Maria Bartolomeo Grant · 2024 to 2026
$1.7M
NCI NIH HHS R01 CA276683NEI NIH HHS R01 EY035539NEI NIH HHS R01EY035539
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of vision loss and is associated with reduced nuclear retinoid X receptor (RXR) activity. Retinal explants exposed to high glucose showed downregulation of RXR, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR), and liver X receptor-β and their lipid metabolism targets (Abca1, Scd1, and Acox1). Supplementation with the RXR agonist UAB126 restored nuclear receptor signaling and preferentially activated RXR/PPAR heterodimers. We evaluated UAB126 microparticles (UAB126-MP), a sustained-release RXR agonist formulation, for pharmacokinetic, molecular, and functional effects in db/db mouse retinas. A single intravitreal injection of UAB126-MP provided extended drug exposure for up to 6 months and increased retinal RXRα expression. Functionally, UAB126-MP preserved scotopic and photopic electroretinographic responses at 2 months and sustained cone photoreceptor function at 6 months. However, it did not reduce acellular capillaries. At 6 months, immunostaining and flow cytometry revealed decreased retinal macrophage/microglial infiltration and reduced CD45-positive myeloid cells and monocytes. These findings indicate that RXR agonism supports neuronal protection and immune modulation but does not prevent vasodegeneration, suggesting primarily neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory actions. Collectively, UAB126-MP confers durable retinal protection through nuclear receptor-mediated pathways, underscoring its potential as a long-acting therapeutic strategy for DR. ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS: High glucose exposure of retinal explants reduces expression of nuclear receptors retinoid X receptor (RXR), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, and liver X receptor-β, and treatment with UAB126 increases the formation of RXR-peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor heterodimers. Sustained release of UAB126-loaded microparticles enables intravitreal drug delivery for up to 6 months. Intravitreal UAB126 microparticles injection in diabetic mice confers long-term neuroprotection and anti-inflammatory benefits. RXR-targeted therapy represents a promising approach strategy for managing diabetic retinopathy.

Indexed as

Diabetic RetinopathyInflammationRetinaRetinoid X ReceptorsAnimalsElectroretinographyMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLRetinoid X Receptors

Identifiers

PMID42461929
PMCPMC13493205

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.