Expression of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Activated Human Retinal Vascular Endothelial Cells

Retinal endothelial cell activation is a central event in non-infectious posterior uveitis. There is recent interest in long non-coding (lnc)RNA-targeted therapeutics for retinal diseases. We aimed to identify human retinal endothelial cell lncRNAs that might be involved in activation. Eleven candidate lncRNAs were identified: GAS5, KCNQ1OT1, LINC00294, MALAT1, MEG3, MIR155HG, NEAT1, NORAD, OIP5-AS1, SENCR, TUG1. Expression was assessed by RT-PCR in human retinal endothelial cells, at baseline and following activation with interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. IL-1β significantly upregulated MEG3 and SENCR at 4 and 24 hours; LINC00294, NORAD, OIP5-AS1 and TUG1 at 24 hours; and MIR155HG at 4, 24 and 48 hours; but downregulated GAS5 at 24 and 48 hours. TNF-α significantly upregulated KCNQ1OT1, LINC00294, MEG3, NORAD and SENCR at 4 hours; SENCR and TUG1 at 24 hours; and MIR155HG at all time points. Future studies involving manipulation of MIR155HG may be warranted to explore potential therapeutic applications for non-infectious posterior uveitis.