Clinical significance and biological role of circFNDC3B in diabetic retinopathy.

OBJECTIVE

This paper investigates the clinical significance and role of circFNDC3B in diabetic retinopathy (DR).

METHODS

Expression levels of circFNDC3B, miR-578, and PIK3CA were detected in serum from DR patients and in HRMECs under high glucose (HG) conditions via qRT-PCR. Diagnostic value of circFNDC3B were assessed using ROC curves and logistic regression analysis. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion capabilities of HRMECs were assessed using CCK-8 assays and Transwell experiments. Cellular inflammation was measured via ELISA. The interrelationship among circFNDC3B, miR-578, and PIK3CA was validated through dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation experiments.

RESULTS

In the serum of patients with DR, circFNDC3B was markedly upregulated, and it has potential as a diagnostic biomarker for DR. miR-578 was identified as a direct target miRNA of circFNDC3B, showing downregulated expression in both DR patient serum and HG-induced HRMECs. Inhibition of miR-578 partially reversed the suppression of circFNDC3B downregulation on proliferation, migration, invasion, and inflammatory responses in HG-induced HRMECs circFNDC3B regulated PIK3CA expression by sponging miR-578.

CONCLUSION

circFNDC3B may serve as a potential biomarker for DR diagnosis and treatment. Its involvement in HG-induced HRMEC injury, through interacting with miR-578, provides new insights into the pathogenesis of DR.