title: Diabetic Retinopathy: Vascular and Inflammatory Disease.
abstract: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of visual impairment in the working-age population of the Western world. The pathogenesis of DR is complex and several vascular, inflammatory, and neuronal mechanisms are involved. Inflammation mediates structural and molecular alterations associated with DR. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the inflammatory pathways associated with DR are not completely characterized. Previous studies indicate that tissue hypoxia and dysregulation of immune responses associated with diabetes mellitus can induce increased expression of numerous vitreous mediators responsible for DR development. Thus, analysis of vitreous humor obtained from diabetic patients has made it possible to identify some of the mediators (cytokines, chemokines, and other factors) responsible for DR pathogenesis. Further studies are needed to better understand the relationship between inflammation and DR. Herein the main vitreous-related factors triggering the occurrence of retinal complication in diabetes are highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Semeraro
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cancarini
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: dell'Omo
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rezzola
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy ; ICRRS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Isernia, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Costagliola
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000276:immunology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000276:immunology*; D012160:Retina / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D016207:Cytokines