AIM: To discuss the correlation between the expression of miR-146 and aging retinal pigment epithelium(RPE), and to study the relationship between miR-146 and expression of IL-6 in RPE, especially in age-related macular degeneration(ARMD).

METHODS: The expressions of miR-146 and IL-6 were examined in RPE in mice aged from 2mo to 24mo by qRT-PCR. Then, the expressions of miR-146 and IL-6 in RPE of wet ARMD patient were examined also. Finally, the effect of overexpression of miR-146a in APRE-19 cell line on expression of IL-6 was checked.

RESULTS: MiR-146 was positive correlated with age, and the expression of IL-6 had no change in aging RPE. However, the expression of miR-146 decreased and IL-6 increased in RPE of ARMD. In cultured APRE-19 cells, overexpression of miR-146 inhibited the expression of IL-6 induced by TNF-α.

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that there is a biological correlation among the development of ARMD, expression of IL-6 and miR-146 in aging RPE. It also suggests that, on the one hand, regulation between IL-6 and miR-146 may be important for the clinical treatment, on the other hand, both IL-6 and miR-146 can be potential molecular markers for diagnosing ARMD.