PubMed ID: 39768199
Author(s): Song YS, Wang S, Park S, Hanna B, Johnson KJ, Darjatmoko SR, Saghiri MA, Saghiri AM, Liu B, Sorenson CM, Sheibani N. Receptor-Interacting Protein Kinase-3 Expression Impacts Ocular Vascular Development and Pathological Neovascularization. Cells. 2024 Dec 20;13(24):2109. doi: 10.3390/cells13242109. PMID 39768199
Journal: Cells, Volume 13, Issue 24, Dec 2024
Functional cell death pathways are essential for normal ocular vascular development and tissue homeostasis. As our understanding of necrosis-based cell death pathways has expanded, the inclusion of regulated forms, including necroptosis, ferroptosis, and oxytosis, has occurred. Although the existence of these pathways is well described, our understanding of their role during vascular development and pathological neovascularization is very limited. Here, we examined the role of receptor-interacting protein kinase-3 (Ripk3), a key regulator of necroptosis, in postnatal retinal vascularization and retinal and choroidal neovascularization under pathological conditions. Postnatal vascularization of the retinal superficial layer in the absence of Ripk3 (Ripk3-/-) was not significantly different from wild-type mice. However, we noted decreased retinal endothelial cells and pericyte numbers at 3 weeks of age when the formation of the retinal primary vascular plexus was complete. In contrast, choroidal and retinal neovascularization following laser treatment and oxygen-induced ischemic retinopathy increased in the absence of Ripk3 expression, respectively. In addition, the inhibition of RIPK1/3 activity suppressed choroidal neovascularization. Thus, Ripk3 expression and/or activity may have unique roles during normal and pathological ocular vascularization through its interactions with Caspase 8 and modulation of cell death processes.