Tacrolimus modulates the PI3K AKT mTOR pathway in retinal epithelial cells under inflammatory stress.

ABSTRACT: Human retinal pigment epithelial (H-RPE) cells contribute to the pathogenesis of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) by undergoing inflammatory activation and fibrotic transformation. The PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway plays a central role in this process, integrating extracellular cues that promote survival, proliferation, and matrix remodeling. Tacrolimus, a calcineurin inhibitor with emerging antifibrotic properties, may modulate these responses at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. H-RPE cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tacrolimus, or their combination to simulate inflammatory and immunosuppressive conditions. Transcriptomic profiling was performed using microarrays, followed by RT-qPCR and ELISA validation of selected targets. A parallel analysis

SUBMITTER: Kielbasinska A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12541082 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature