Neurovascular Impairment and Therapeutic Strategies in Diabetic Retinopathy

Toshiyuki Oshitari
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Toshiyuki Oshitari: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Inohana 1-8-1, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 19, issue 1, 1-19

Abstract: Diabetic retinopathy has recently been defined as a highly specific neurovascular complication of diabetes. The chronic progression of the impairment of the interdependence of neurovascular units (NVUs) is associated with the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. The NVUs consist of neurons, glial cells, and vascular cells, and the interdependent relationships between these cells are disturbed under diabetic conditions. Clinicians should understand and update the current knowledge of the neurovascular impairments in diabetic retinopathy. Above all, neuronal cell death is an irreversible change, and it is directly related to vision loss in patients with diabetic retinopathy. Thus, neuroprotective and vasoprotective therapies for diabetic retinopathy must be established. Understanding the physiological and pathological interdependence of the NVUs is helpful in establishing neuroprotective and vasoprotective therapies for diabetic retinopathy. This review focuses on the pathogenesis of the neurovascular impairments and introduces possible neurovascular protective therapies for diabetic retinopathy.

Keywords: neurovascular unit; polyol pathway; oxidative stress; advanced glycation-end product; neuroprotection; vasoprotection; diabetic retinopathy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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