title: Diabetic microangiopathy: Pathogenetic insights and novel therapeutic approaches.
abstract: Diabetic microangiopathy, including retinopathy, is characterized by abnormal growth and leakage of small blood vessels, resulting in local edema and functional impairment of the depending tissues. Mechanisms leading to the impairment of microcirculation in diabetes are multiple and still largely unclear. However, a dysregulated vascular regeneration appears to play a key role. In addition, oxidative and hyperosmolar stress, as well as the activation of inflammatory pathways triggered by advanced glycation end-products and toll-like receptors, have been recognized as key underlying events.Here, we review recent knowledge on cellular and molecular pathways of microvascular disease in diabetes. We also highlight how new insights into pathogenic mechanisms of vascular damage in diabetes may indicate new targets for prevention and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence on Aging (CesiMet), Institute of Cardiology, Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy; The Texas Heart Institute, Center for Cardiovascular Biology and Atherosclerosis Research, Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States.
authors.forename: Rosalinda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Madonna
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmela Rita
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Balistreri
authors.affiliation: The Texas Heart Institute, Center for Cardiovascular Biology and Atherosclerosis Research, Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States.
authors.forename: Yong-Jian
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence on Aging (CesiMet), Institute of Cardiology, Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy. Electronic address: rdecater@unich.it.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Caterina
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002199:Capillary Permeability; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D008833:Microcirculation; D055806:Microvessels / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011379:Prognosis; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors
keywords: Cellular and molecular pathways; Diabetes; Diabetes retinopathy; Microangiopathy