TNF‐α signaling regulates RUNX1 function in endothelial cells

Runt‐related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) acts as a mediator of aberrant retinal angiogenesis and has been implicated in the progression of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Patients with PDR, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and wet age‐related macular degeneration (wet AMD) have been found to have elevated levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) in the eye. In fibrovascular membranes (FVMs) taken from patients with PDR RUNX1 expression was increased in the vasculature, while in human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs), TNF‐α stimulation causes increased RUNX1 expression, which can be modulated by RUNX1 inhibitors. Using TNF‐α pathway inhibitors, we determined that in HRMECs, TNF‐α‐induced RUNX1 expression occurs via JNK activation, while NF‐κB and p38/MAPK inhibition did not affect RUNX1 expression. JNK inhibitors were also effective at stopping high D‐glucose‐stimulated RUNX1 expression. We further linked JNK to RUNX1 through Activator Protein 1 (AP‐1) and investigated the JNK‐AP‐1‐RUNX1 regulatory feedback loop, which can be modulated by VEGF. Additionally, stimulation with TNF‐α and D‐glucose had an additive effect on RUNX1 expression, which was downregulated by VEGF modulation. These data suggest that the downregulation of RUNX1 in conjunction with anti‐VEGF agents may be important in future treatments for the management of diseases of pathologic ocular angiogenesis.