Differentially expressed genes in rabbits with traumatic proliferative vitreoretinopathy based on high-throughput sequencing

To identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in rabbits with traumatic proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) using high-throughput sequencing (HTS).

Thirty-six rabbits were randomly allocated to the control group and the PVR group induced by scleral puncture. On the 28^th day following modeling, fundus B-ultrasound and fundus photography were performed on all rabbits, and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was conducted on retinal tissues. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) combined with bioinformatics analysis was used to screen PVR-associated DEGs. Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were carried out for the identified DEGs. S100A6, EDNRB and CEBPD were randomly selected for quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) validation to verify the reliability of the RNA-Seq results.

Fundus B-ultrasound, fundus photography and retinal HE staining confirmed the successful establishment of the traumatic PVR rabbit model. A total of 1587 DEGs were screened, of which 1094 were significantly up-regulated and 493 were significantly down-regulated. GO function enrichment analysis showed that these DEGs were mainly enriched in immune response, extracellular region and inflammatory response. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that DEGs were mainly involved in the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and hematopoietic cell lineage pathway. RT-qPCR results showed that S100A6, CEBPD and EDNRB were significantly increased in PVR group.

A large number of genes exhibit significant differential expression in rabbits with traumatic PVR, among which S100A6, CEBPD and EDNRB may play an important role in traumatic PVR.