Fig. 7: SGLT2i reduced pathological neovascularisation by decreasing AGGF1.

a, b Fundus and OCT cross-sectional structural images and quantification of the retinal thickness measured by OCT in db/db mice compared to those in age-matched db/db+SGLT2i (Dapagliflozin, 1.5 mg/kg/d) mice (n  =  6 mice per group). c Paraffin HE staining for retinal thickness in db/db mice and db/db+SGLT2i mice (n  =  4 mice per group). d PAS staining of retinal trypsin digestion visualizing retinal vasculature and acellular capillaries (white arrowheads) in db/db mice and db/db+SGLT2i mice (n  =  5 mice per group). e Heat maps from proteomic array analysis with ranked enriched genes in 3 db/db mice and 3 db/db+SGLT2i mice retinas (fold-change >1.2 or <0.83, p  <  0.05). High and low expression are denoted by red and navy, respectively. f Western blot analysis and quantification of AGGF1 protein levels in the retinas of db/db and db/db+SGLT2i mice (n  =  6 mice per group). g Immunohistochemical detection of AGGF1 expression in db/db and db/db+SGLT2i mice (n  =  3 mice per group). h, i Western blot analysis and quantification of AGGF1, CyclinA2, CyclinD1 and CDK1 protein levels in the retinas of db/db and db/db+SGLT2i mice (n  =  6 mice per group). j, k Western blot analysis and quantification of AGGF1, CyclinA2, CyclinD1 and CDK1 protein levels in NG, MA, HG and HG+SGLT2i HRMECs (n  =  3 independent cultures). l Representative images of HRMECs treated with HG and HG+SGLT2i was performed by EdU staining to reflect cell proliferation (n  =  3 mice per group). m, n Representative images and quantification of HRMECs treated with HG and HG+SGLT2i in wound healing assay at 0 and 24 h (n  =  6 independent cultures). Error bars represent mean ± SEM. 2-tailed unpaired Student’s t tests (b, f, i, k). Scale bars: 50 μm (c, d and g); 100 μm (l), 1000 μm (m). NG normal glucose (5.5 mmol/L glucose), MA mannitol (5.5mmol/L glucose+ 27.8 mmol/L mannitol), HG high glucose (33.3 mmol/L glucose), SGLT2i SGLT2 inhibitors (Dapagliflozin), GCL ganglion cell layer, INL inner nuclear layer, ONL outer nuclear layer. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.