Clinical Significance and Biological Role of LncRNA HCG11 in Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a critical and prevalent microvascular complication in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), potentially culminating in blindness. Although lncRNA HCG11 has been proposed as a biomarker for this type of disease, supporting evidence remains sparse. This research endeavor is aimed at explicating the clinical relevance and molecular underpinnings of lncRNA HCG11 in DR patients. Serum levels of HCG11 were quantified in both DR and DM patients to assess its potential as an early diagnostic biomarker. Additionally, the effects of HCG11 on human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19) were investigated in a vitro cell model, and the interaction between HCG11 and miR-532-3p was investigated through a dual-luciferase reporter assay. The results indicated that a significant upregulation of HCG11 in DR patients and could distinguish DR patients from those with DM with high sensitivity and specificity. In vitro experiments revealed that knockdown of HCG11 mitigated high glucose-induced inhibition of cell viability, reduced apoptosis, and lowered inflammatory cytokine secretion. The dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed the binding interaction between HCG11 and miR-532-3p, also noting a negative correlation. The detailed mechanisms of their interaction warrant further investigation. lncRNA HCG11 was pivotal in the pathogenesis of DR, emerging as a promising diagnostic and therapeutic target. This study offers novel molecular insights and potential strategies for diagnosing and treating diabetic retinopathy.