The MicroRNA-21 signaling pathway is involved in prorenin receptor (PRR) -induced VEGF expression in ARPE-19 cells under a hyperglycemic condition.

Abstract

Our findings, for the first time, showed that the pleiotropic action of miR-21 induced the expression of pERK, HIF-1α, and VEGF in the high glucose condition by simultaneously targeting SPRY1, SMAD7, and PTEN in ARPE-19 cells. Therefore, miR-21 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for diabetes-induced retinal pathology.