Investigating the role of PPARβ/δ in retinal vascular remodeling using Pparβ/δ-deficient mice

• Main Authors: Ho, Sze Yuan, Kwan, Yuet Ping, Qiu, Beiying, Tan, Alison, Murray, Hannah Louise, Barathi, Veluchamy Amutha, Tan, Nguan Soon, Cheung, Gemmy Chui Ming, Wong, Tien Yin, Wahli, Walter, Wang, Xiaomeng
• Other Authors: Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: Science::Medicine; PPARβ/δ; Angiogenesis
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/144724
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)β/δ is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily of transcription factors, which plays fundamental roles in cell proliferation and differentiation, inflammation, adipogenesis, and energy homeostasis. Previous studies demonstrated a reduced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in Pparβ/δ-deficient mice. However, PPARβ/δ's role in physiological blood vessel formation and vessel remodeling in the retina has yet to be established. Our study showed that PPARβ/δ is specifically required for disordered blood vessel formation in the retina. We further demonstrated an increased arteriovenous crossover and wider venous caliber in Pparβ/δ-haplodeficient mice. In summary, these results indicated a critical role of PPARβ/δ in pathological angiogenesis and blood vessel remodeling in the retina.