Artemisinin ameliorates diabetic retinopathy by upregulating CASC2/miR-155/SIRT1 axis

Abstract

Purpose: To explore the protective effects of artemisinin (Art) against diabetic retinopathy (DR) and the probable mechanism of action.Methods: MIO-M1 cells were treated with high glucose (HG) and Art, and the cells’ proliferative ability was determined using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and 5-ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay. The relative levels of inflammatory factors in the culture medium of MIO-M1 cells were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). while the expression levels of CASC2, miR-155 and Sirtuin1 (SIRT1) in MIO-M1 cells were evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Interaction of Art with the cell target was assessed using dual-luciferase reporter assay. The role of the CASC2/miR-155/SIRT1 axis in Art-induced protection against the proliferation and inflammation of MIO-M1 cells was evaluated.Results: HG induced elevated proliferation of MIO-M1 cells and production of inflammatory factors, but these effects were countered by Art treatment (p < 0.05). CASC2 and SIRT1 were upregulated, while miR-155 was downregulated in HG-treated MIO-M1 cells; changes in their expressions remained the same following Art treatment. CASC2/miR-155/SIRT1 axis was responsible for the ameliorative effect of Art on HG-treated MIO-M1 cells.Conclusion: Artemisinin treatment inhibits cell activation and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in HG-induced MIO-M1 cells via CASC2/miR-155/SIRT1 axis. Thus, artemisinin has potentials for development into a therapeutic agent for the management of diabetic retinopathy.