Expressions of HIF-1α and MiR-210 in aqueous humor of patients with central retinal vein occlusion combined with macular edema

Objectives: To detect the expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and microRNA-210 (miR-210) in the aqueous humor of patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) combined with macular edema, and explore their correlations with CRVO combined with macular edema.

Methods: A total of 65 patients (65 eyes) with CRVO combined with macular edema who were treated in the Lixiang Eye Hospital of Soochow University from April 2018 to March 2020 were selected as subjects (CRVO combined with macular edema group). Additionally, 74 patients (74 eyes) with cataract were selected during the same period as cataract control group. The expressions of HIF-1α mRNA and miR-210 in the aqueous humor were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the aqueous humor were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The correlations of HIF-1α mRNA and miR-210 in the aqueous humor of patients with CRVO combined with macular edema with vasoactive molecule levels, the diagnostic value of HIF-1α mRNA and miR-210 levels in the aqueous humor in CRVO combined with macular edema, as well as the factors influencing the occurrence of CRVO combined with macular edema were analyzed.

Results: The levels of HIF-1α mRNA, miR-210, MCP-1, VEGF and IL-6 in the aqueous humor of the CRVO combined with macular edema group were higher than those of the cataract control group (P < 0.05). In the CRVO combined with macular edema group, HIF-1α mRNA and miR-210 levels in the aqueous humor were positively correlated (r = 0.522, P < 0.05), and they were positively correlated with MCP-1, VEGF and IL-6 levels (P < 0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of HIF-1α mRNA and miR-210 in the aqueous humor in diagnosing CRVO combined with macular edema was 0.888 and 0.866, the specificity was 95.9% and 85.1%, and the sensitivity was 76.9% and 80.0%, respectively. The AUC of their combination was 0.937, with the specificity of 93.2% and the sensitivity of 86.2%. HIF-1α, miR-210 and VEGF were the independent risk factors affecting the occurrence of CRVO combined with macular edema (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: In patients with CRVO combined with macular edema, HIF-1α mRNA and miR-210 were highly expressed in the aqueous humor, which may play an important role in the occurrence and development of the disease.