Muller cell glutamine metabolism links photoreceptor and endothelial injury in diabetic retinopathy.

ABSTRACT: We characterized the timeline of molecular dysfunction in diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic retinal disease (DRD) by studying the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced mouse retina over the course of 6 mo of diabetes. We performed bulk RNA-Seq on endothelial and retinal cells, separately, at 1, 3, and 6 mo of diabetes and single-cell RNA-Seq (scRNA-Seq) at 3 months. Transcriptomics changes were validated by in vitro and ex vivo assays and immunohistochemistry of mouse and human tissue. Bulk RNA-Seq revealed inflammation in endothelial cells at 1 mo. At 3 mo, scRNA-Seq identified glutamine-driven anaplerotic dysfunction in Müller cells, confirmed by retinal culture. We posited this glutamine deficiency would impact the photoreceptors and endothelial cells. We validated this hypothesis using end

SUBMITTER: Corano Scheri K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12634822 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature