Angiopoietin 2 induces astrocyte apoptosis via αvβ5-integrin signaling in diabetic retinopathy

The vascular leakage in diabetic retinopathy leads to macular edema and vision loss. Although astrocyte play an important role in regulating blood-brain barrier integrity in the brain, the precise role of astrocyte in blood-retinal barrier was yet to be elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the role of angiopoietin 2 (Ang2) in astrocyte loss and vascular leakage in the early streptozotocin-induced diabetic retinopathy. We demonstrated that vascular leakage occurred with astrocyte loss in early diabetic mice retina as Ang2 increased. The astrocyte loss and vascular leakage were inhibited by intravitreal injection of Ang2-neutralizing antibody. In vitro, Ang2 aggravated high glucose-induced astrocyte apoptosis via GSK-3β activation. Ang2 directly bound to αvβ5 integrin, which was abundant in astrocyte, and the blockade of αvβ5 integrin, in vitro, effectively attenuated Ang2-induced astrocyte apoptosis. In vivo, intravitreal injection of anti-αvβ5-integrin antibody inhibited astrocyte loss in early diabetic retinopathy. Taken together, Ang2 induced astrocyte apoptosis under high glucose via αvβ5-integrin/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway. Therefore, we suggest that Ang2/integrin signaling could be a potential therapeutic target to prevent the vascular leakage by astrocyte loss in early diabetic retinopathy.