[HTML][HTML] Knockout of insulin and IGF-1 receptors on vascular endothelial cells protects against retinal neovascularization

T Kondo, D Vicent, K Suzuma… - The Journal of …, 2003 - Am Soc Clin Investig
T Kondo, D Vicent, K Suzuma, M Yanagisawa, GL King, M Holzenberger, CR Kahn
The Journal of clinical investigation, 2003Am Soc Clin Investig
Both insulin and IGF-1 have been implicated in control of retinal endothelial cell growth,
neovascularization, and diabetic retinopathy. To precisely define the role of insulin and IGF-
1 signaling in endothelium in these processes, we have used the oxygen-induced
retinopathy model to study mice with a vascular endothelial cell–specific knockout of the
insulin receptor (VENIRKO) or IGF-1 receptor (VENIFARKO). Following relative hypoxia,
VENIRKO mice show a 57% decrease in retinal neovascularization as compared with …
Both insulin and IGF-1 have been implicated in control of retinal endothelial cell growth, neovascularization, and diabetic retinopathy. To precisely define the role of insulin and IGF-1 signaling in endothelium in these processes, we have used the oxygen-induced retinopathy model to study mice with a vascular endothelial cell–specific knockout of the insulin receptor (VENIRKO) or IGF-1 receptor (VENIFARKO). Following relative hypoxia, VENIRKO mice show a 57% decrease in retinal neovascularization as compared with controls. This is associated with a blunted rise in VEGF, eNOS, and endothelin-1. By contrast, VENIFARKO mice show only a 34% reduction in neovascularization and a very modest reduction in mediator generation. These data indicate that both insulin and IGF-1 signaling in endothelium play a role in retinal neovascularization through the expression of vascular mediators, with the effect of insulin being most important in this process.
The Journal of Clinical Investigation