Cellular communication network factor 1 promotes retinal leakage in diabetic retinopathy via inducing neutrophil stasis and neutrophil extracellular traps extrusion

作者：Ting Li, Yixia Qian, Haicheng Li, Tongtong Wang, Qi Jiang, Yuchan Wang, Yanhua Zhu, Shasha Li, Xuemin He, Guojun Shi, Wenru Su, Yan Lü, Yanming Chen · 发表于：Cell Communication and Signaling · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1186/s12964-024-01653-3 · 被引用次数：23 · 研究领域：Connective Tissue Growth Factor Research、S100 Proteins and Annexins、Advanced Glycation End Products research

BACKGROUND: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major cause of blindness and is characterized by dysfunction of the retinal microvasculature. Neutrophil stasis, resulting in retinal inflammation and the occlusion of retinal microvessels, is a key mechanism driving DR. These plugging neutrophils subsequently release neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which further disrupts the retinal vasculature. Nevertheless, the primary catalyst for NETs extrusion in the retinal microenvironment under diabetic conditions remains unidentified. In recent studies, cellular communication network factor 1 (CCN1) has emerged as a central molecule modulating inflammation in pathological settings. Additionally, our previous research has shed light on the pathogenic role of CCN1 in maintaining endothelial integrity. However, the precise role of CCN1 in microvascular occlusion and its potential interaction with neutrophils in diabetic retinopathy have not yet been investigated. METHODS: We first examined the circulating level of CCN1 and NETs in our study cohort and analyzed related clinical parameters. To further evaluate the effects of CCN1 in vivo, we used recombinant CCN1 protein and CCN1 overexpression for gain-of-function, and CCN1 knockdown for loss-of-function by intravitreal injection in diabetic mice. The underlying mechanisms were further validated on human and mouse primary neutrophils and dHL60 cells. RESULTS: We detected increases in CCN1 and neutrophil elastase in the plasma of DR patie...