The expression of parthanatos markers and miR-7 mimic protects photoreceptors from parthanatos by repressing α-synuclein in retinal detachment.

Retinal detachment refers to the separation between the neuroepithelium and the pigment epithelium layer. It is an important disease leading to irreversible vision damage worldwide, in which photoreceptor cell death plays a major role. Alpha-synuclein (α-syn) is reportedly involved in numerous mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, but the association with photoreceptor damage in retinal detachment has not been studied. In this research, elevated transcription levels of α-syn and parthanatos proteins were discovered in the vitreous of patients with retinal detachment. Meanwhile, the expression of α-syn and parthanatos related proteins were increased in experimental rat retinal detachment, and were involved in the mechanism of photoreceptor damage, which was related to the decreased expression of miR-7. Interestingly, subretinal injecting of miR-7 mimic in retinal detachment rats inhibited the expression of retinal α-syn and downregulated the parthanatos pathway, thereby protecting retinal structure and function. In addition, interference with α-syn in 661W cells decreased the expression of parthanatos death pathway in OGD model. In conclusion,this study demonstrates the presence of parthanatos related proteins in patients with retinal detachment,and the role of the miR-7/ α-syn /parthanatos pathway in photoreceptor damage in retinal detachment.