Mechanism underlying Müller cell pyroptosis and its role in the development of proliferative vitreoretinopathy

ABSTRACT

Abstract Objectives To explore the mechanism underlying Müller Cell Pyroptosis (MCP) and its role in the development of Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy (PVR). Method The expression of pyroptosis-related factors, namely, cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase (caspase-1), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, and Gasdermin D (GSDMD), was detected by quantitative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting at the mRNA and protein levels, respectively, in retinal tissues. Müller and spontaneously Arising Retinal Pigment Epithelia (ARPE)-19 primary cells with GSDMD overexpression or knockdown were cultivated. Western blotting was used to detect the levels of the following pyroptosis-related factors in retinal tissues caspase-1, IL-1β, IL-18, and GSDMD. Through Cell Adhesion (CA) experiments, the changes in ARPE-19 CA in each group were observed. The migration and invasion of ARPE-19 cells were measured using the Transwell assay. The proliferation of ARPE-19 cells was measured with a Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK-8) assay. Finally, the expression of the cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 in the ARPE-19 cell culture medium was detected using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Results Compared with the surrounding normal tissues, the expression of caspase-1, IL-1β, IL-18, and GSDMD at the protein and mRNA levels in the retinal proliferative membrane samples of the patients decreased significantly (p < 0.05). MCP significantly enhanced ARPE-19 CA, migration and invasion, proliferation, and cytokine expression (p < 0.05). Conclusions MCP can promote the development of PVR lesions.