All-Trans Retinoic Acid Modulates MicroRNA-129-5p/Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α/Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Signaling and Suppresses Ets-1 in Retinal Pigment Epithelial ARPE-19 Cells

Our findings characterize miR-129-5p as a pivotal molecular switch orchestrating ATRA-mediated RPE modulation. By decoupling antifibrotic activity (Ets-1 suppression) from cytoprotective signaling (HIF-1α stabilization), this miR-129-5p/HIF-1α/VEGF axis balances the attenuation of pathological fibrosis with the preservation of homeostatic survival factors for retinal integrity, providing a nuanced therapeutic approach for PVR and the associated retinal disorders.