Autophagy-mediated activation of the AIM2 inflammasome enhances M1 polarization of microglia and exacerbates retinal neovascularization.

ABSTRACT: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a retinal neovascularization (RNV) disease that is characterized by abnormal blood vessel development in the retina. Importantly, the etiology of ROP remains understudied. We re-analyzed previously published single-cell data and discovered a strong correlation between microglia and RNV diseases, particularly ROP. Subsequently, we found that reactive oxygen species reduced autophagy-dependent protein degradation of absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) in hypoxic BV2 cells, leading to increased AIM2 protein accumulation. Furthermore, we engineered AIM2 knockout mice and observed that the RNV was significantly reduced compared to wild-type mice. In vitro vascular function assays also demonstrated diminished angiogenic capabilities following AIM2 knockdown in hypoxic

SUBMITTER: Liu X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11286542 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature