Kir4.1 may represent a novel therapeutic target for diabetic retinopathy (Review)

Xiaoyu Li; Jiajun Lv; Jiazhi Li; Xiang Ren

doi:10.3892/etm.2021.10453

Kir4.1 may represent a novel therapeutic target for diabetic retinopathy (Review)

Exp Ther Med. 2021 Sep;22(3):1021. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10453. Epub 2021 Jul 15.

Authors

Xiaoyu Li^{1

2}, Jiajun Lv^{1

2}, Jiazhi Li², Xiang Ren¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Histology and Embryology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 116044, P.R. China.
² Department of Radiotherapy Oncology, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 116023, P.R. China.

Abstract

As the major cause of irreversible loss of vision in adults, diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most serious complications of diabetes. The imbalance of the retinal microenvironment and destruction of the blood-retinal barrier have a significant role in the progression of DR. Inward rectifying potassium channel 4.1 (Kir4.1) is located on Müller cells and is closely related to potassium homeostasis, water balance and glutamate clearance in the whole retina. The present review discusses the functions of Kir4.1 in regulating the retinal microenvironment and related biological mechanisms in DR. In the future, Kir4.1 may represent a novel alternative therapeutic target for DR through affecting the retinal microenvironment.

Keywords: Kir4.1; diabetic retinopathy; retinal microenvironment.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

Funding: This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province (grant no. 2020-BS-189), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 31371218), the Basic Scientific Research Projects of Liaoning Provincial Education Department (grant no. LQ2017005) and the Liaoning Provincial Program for Top Discipline of Basic Medical Sciences (grant nos. 2020-BS-189 and LQ2017005).