Potential new strategies to prevent the development of diabetic retinopathy.
Recent studies have demonstrated that diabetic retinopathy has several characteristics of a chronic inflammatory disease, such as increased nitric oxide production, intracellular adhesion molecule-1 upregulation, leukostasis and increased vascular permeability. In addition, diabetes leads to the activation of caspase-1, the enzyme responsible for the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1beta and IL-18 in the retinae of diabetic animals and diabetic patients. Minocycline, a second-generation tetracycline derivative, was able to prevent the activation of capase-1 in the retinae of diabetic mice. Therefore, this review is focused on discussing the role of caspase-1 as a mediator of chronic inflammation and/or apoptosis inducer in the development of diabetic retinopathy and the suitability of caspase-1 as a new potential therapeutic target.
Mohr
Susanne
S
Case Western Reserve University, Department of Medicine, Centre for Diabetes Research, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. sxm38@po.cwru.edu
D000818:Animals; D020170:Caspase 1 / Q000502:physiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000473:pathology; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology
D016207:Cytokines; D020170:Caspase 1