Lipoxins, resolvins, and protectins in the prevention and treatment of diabetic macular edema and retinopathy.
Diabetic macular edema and retinopathy are low-grade inflammatory conditions. Infusions of antitumor necrosis factor-α (anti-TNF-α) antibody and antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) antibody have been shown to be at least partly effective in the treatment of diabetic macular edema and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Intravitreal therapy of diabetic macular edema by the anti-TNF-α antibody has been found to produce significant side effects and anti-VEGF therapy to be ineffective. Nevertheless, these studies have indicated that the suppression of TNF-α and other proinflammatory cytokines and VEGF could be of benefit in diabetic macular edema and retinopathy. The retina is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially in ω-3, and several studies have shown that polyunsaturated fatty acids prevent diabetic retinopathy. Lipoxins, resolvins, and protectins derived from various polyunsaturated fatty acids possess anti-inflammatory actions and suppress the production of interleukin-6, and TNF-α and VEGF have antiangiogenic actions. In view of these evidences, I propose that lipoxins, resolvins, and protectins could be of significant benefit in the prevention and management of diabetic macular edema and retinopathy.
School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Kakinada, India. Undurti@hotmail.com
Undurti N
UN
Das
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016207:Cytokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D044045:Lipoxins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors; D015850:Interleukin-6
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016207:Cytokines; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D044045:Lipoxins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; C040527:lipoxin A4