MYDGF promotes pathological and physiological retinal angiogenesis via the Gαi1/3-Gab1-Akt-mTOR signaling.

MYDGF drives retinal angiogenesis through Gαi1/3-Gab1-Akt-mTOR signaling, promoting both pathological and physiological vessel growth in mice and humans.

• Why it matters: Understanding the mechanisms of retinal neovascularization is crucial for developing treatments for vision-threatening conditions like diabetic retinopathy, yet these pathways are not fully understood.
• What they did: The study used single-cell RNA sequencing and human validation to show MYDGF upregulation in retinal endothelial cells, and employed genetic and in vitro approaches to analyze its role in angiogenesis.
• The result: MYDGF enhances retinal vessel growth by activating the Akt-mTOR pathway via Gαi1/3-Gab1, and disrupting this axis suppresses abnormal neovascularization, offering potential therapeutic targets.