Evidence for a dysfunction and disease-promoting role of the circadian clock in the diabetic retina

Exp Eye Res. 2021 Aug 31;211:108751. doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2021.108751. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTDiabetic retinopathy is a major complication of chronic hyperglycemia and a leading cause of blindness in developed countries. In the present study the interaction between diabetes and retinal clocks was investigated in mice. It was seen that in the db/db mouse - a widely used animal model of diabetic retinopathy - clock function and circadian regulation of gene expression was disturbed in the retina. Remarkably, elimination of clock function by Bmal1-deficiency mitigates the progression of pathophysiology of the diabetic retina. Thus high-fat diet was seen to induce histopathology and molecular markers associated with diabetic retinopathy in wild type but not in Bmal1-deficient mice. The data of the present study suggest that Bmal1/the retinal clock system is both, a target and an effector of diabetes mellitus in the retina and hence represents a putative therapeutic target in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy.PMID:34478739 | DOI:10.1016/j.exer.2021.108751
Source: Experimental Eye Research - Category: Opthalmology Authors: Source Type: research