Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

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

Lingzhen Kong¹ , Zheng Zhang²

¹Department of Ophthalmology, Zhuji Central Hospital, Zhuji; ²Department of Ophtalmology, Hangzhou Huaxia Eye Hospital, Hangzhou, China.

For correspondence:- Lingzhen Kong Email: 13587389718@163.com

Accepted: 27 September 2021 Published: 31 October 2021

Citation: Kong L, Zhang Z. Artemisinin ameliorates diabetic retinopathy by upregulating CASC2/miR-155/SIRT1 axis. Trop J Pharm Res 2021; 20(10):2023-2028 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v20i10.2

© 2021 The authors.
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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.

Keywords: Diabetic retinopathy, Artemisinin, CASC2, MiR-155, SIRT1