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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Endocrinol.
Sec. Diabetes: Molecular Mechanisms
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1509445
This article is part of the Research Topic Targeting early-stage Diabetic Retinopathy and Age-related Macular Degeneration: Diagnosis and management. View all 3 articles

Downregulation of MerTK in Circulating T cells of Patients with Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

Provisionally accepted
Shimiao Bu Shimiao Bu 1Zheng Zhao Zheng Zhao 2Xiaojun Wu Xiaojun Wu 3Liting Zhang Liting Zhang 3Xiangyu Shi Xiangyu Shi 1Lang Huang Lang Huang 3Ying Yang Ying Yang 2Zongqin Xiang Zongqin Xiang 3Yong U. Liu Yong U. Liu 4*Yufeng Liu Yufeng Liu 3*Yuehong Zhang Yuehong Zhang 1*
  • 1 Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
  • 2 Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
  • 3 Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
  • 4 South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    This study explores the differential gene expression in peripheral blood immune cells of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), comparing those with and without non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). From a pool of 126 potential participants, 60 were selected for detailed analysis. This group included 12 healthy donors (HDs), 22 individuals with DM, and 26 with NPDR. We analyzed peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using RNA sequencing and quantitative PCR (qPCR) to pinpoint differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Western blot and flow cytometry were also employed to evaluate the protein expression of specific genes. In patients with NPDR compared to those with DM alone, MerTK-a gene implicated in inherited retinal dystrophies due to its mutations-was notably downregulated in PBMCs. Through flow cytometry, we assessed the protein levels and cellular distribution of MerTK, finding a predominant expression in monocytes and myeloidderived suppressor cells (MDSCs), with a marked reduction in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, as well as in natural killer T (NKT) cells. Patients with DM demonstrated a significant deviation in the PBMCs composition, particularly in B cells, CD4+ T cells, and NK cells, when compared to HDs. The study indicates that MerTK expression in T cells within PBMCs could act as a viable blood biomarker for NPDR risk in patients with DM. Furthermore, the regulation of T cells by MerTK might represent a critical pathway through which DM evolves into NPDR.

    Keywords: Diabet Mellitus, retinopathy, Non-proliferative diabetic reinopathy, PBMC (peripheral blood mononuclear cells), MERTK

    Received: 11 Oct 2024; Accepted: 09 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Bu, Zhao, Wu, Zhang, Shi, Huang, Yang, Xiang, Liu, Liu and Zhang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Yong U. Liu, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
    Yufeng Liu, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou, 510180, Guangdong Province, China
    Yuehong Zhang, Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.