As previous studies indicated, miR-146a-5p could inhibit diabetes-induced defects in retinal endothelial cells via targeting several key molecules of the NF-κB pathway,28,29 and miR-7-5p could reduce proliferation of retinal endothelial cells through targeting IRS1 and deactivating the PI3K/AKT pathway.27 This evidence concerns the gene IRS1 and diabetes mellitus.