title: Role of endocannabinoids in the progression of diabetic retinopathy.
abstract: In the past decades, the role of numerous factors in the pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy has been explored, following which marked progress has been made in developing several novel therapeutic options, such as anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha and various other anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic agents, for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy. However, the involvement of endocannabinoid system in its pathogenesis has not been much explored. This review aims at unveiling every aspect of association of the endocannabinoid system and its interactions with various physiological and pathological pathways to induce disease progression. The various alterations induced by endocannabinoids, such as anandamide and 2-arachidonylglycerol, in retina during hyperglycaemia clearly demonstrate and verify their involvement in aggravating the pathological conditions, hence leading to the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Exploring this involvement furthermore, in greater depths, might be beneficial in acknowledging and understanding the hidden aspects of the pathogenesis of this complication even better and might provide a therapeutically beneficial alternative target to combat and restrict its progression amongst diabetic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Tapan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Behl
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Chandigarh College of Pharmacy, Mohali, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Ishneet
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kotwani
mesh_terms: D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D063388:Endocannabinoids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D063388:Endocannabinoids
keywords: 2-arachidonoylglycerol; FAAH1 (fatty acid amide hydrolase 1); anandamide; neurodegeneration; retinal pigment epithelium