From May 5 to 9, 2024, the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting, the world's most prestigious top-notched academic meeting in the field of ophthalmology, was held in Seattle, USA. Liu Xuan, Attending Physician from Department of Ophthalmology of the First Affiliated Hospital (FAH) of Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU) and Deputy Director of Department of Ophthalmology of Qinghai Provincial People’s Hospital, displayed relevant research results in the poster presentation on behalf of both FAH and Qinghai Provincial People’s Hospital.

This is the second time that Physician Liu Xuan participated in ARVO Annual Meeting with the support of Pei Cheng, Director of Department of Ophthalmology. It is also the first time that Liu Xuan demonstrated scientific research results jointly completed with colleagues from Department of Ophthalmology of Qinghai Provincial People’s Hospital during medical aid in Qinghai province since he participated in the construction of National Medical Center.

This poster mainly focuses on the new target of PHLPP2 in diabetic retinopathy, and primarily discusses the possible role of PHLPP2 in regulating the damage of retinal ganglion cells induced by high glucose. The expression level of PHLPP2 is significantly upregulated in retinal ganglion cells stimulated by high glucose. Knocking out PHLPP2 in retinal ganglion cells can significantly mitigate cell damage induced by high glucose, including improving cell survival, reducing cell apoptosis, inhibiting oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory reaction. Further study found that knockout of PHLPP2 can promote the activation of Nrf2 signaling pathway in retinal ganglion cells stimulated by high glucose by regulating Akt-GSK-3β. Inhibition of Akt can reverse the activation of Nrf2 pathway induced by PHLPP2 knockout. In addition, inhibition of Nrf2 can also reverse the cytoprotective effect induced by PHLPP2 knockout. These results showed that knockout of PHLPP2 could alleviate the damage of retinal ganglion cells induced by high glucose by regulating Akt-GSK-3β-Nrf2 signaling pathway.

This is the first time that Qinghai Provincial People’s Hospital is invited to present academic achievements of ophthalmology on the international stage. It is also the first time that the voice of Qinghai Provincial People’s Hospital can be heard by global peers under the guidance of National Regional Medical Center project of FAH.