miR-15a-5p Serves a Protective Role in Diabetic Retinal Neurovascular Dysfunction

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is increasingly recognized as a neurovascular disease driven by early dysfunction of the retinal neurovascular unit. Current therapies primarily alleviate vascular leakage but offer limited neuroprotective efficacy. Here, we identify microRNA-15a-5p (miR-15a-5p) as an endogenous regulator of retina and evaluate its therapeutic potential in early-stage DR. Using db/db mice, we investigated the effects of intravitreal delivery of a miR-15a-5p agomir initiated at 12 weeks of age.