Suppression of choroidal neovascularization by silencing of long non-coding RNA IPW.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as the key regulators in the pathogenesis of human disorders. This study aimed to investigate the role of lncRNA-IPW in the progression of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and the underlying molecular mechanism. IPW was significantly up-regulated in the choroidal tissues of laser-induced CNV mice and in the endothelial cells in response to hypoxic stress. IPW silencing led to reduced formation of CNV in laser-induced CNV model and ex vivo choroidal sprouting model, which could achieve similar therapeutic effects of anti-VEGF on CNV formation. Silencing or transgenic overexpression of IPW could alter endothelial cell viability, proliferation, migration, and tube formation ability . Mechanistically, IPW silencing led to increased expression of miR-370. Increased miR-370 could mimic the effects of IPW silencing on CNV formation and endothelial angiogenic phenotypes and . This study suggests that IPW silencing is a promising strategy for the treatment of neovascular ocular diseases.