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Role of chemokines in diabetic retinopathy
Author(s) -
Struyf S.,
Mohammad G.,
Imtiaz Nawaz M.,
Van Raemdonck K.,
De Hertogh G.,
Van Damme J.,
Abu El Asrar A.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2015.0221
Subject(s) - chemokine , fibrocyte , diabetic retinopathy , angiogenesis , neovascularization , immunology , cxcl10 , endothelial stem cell , fibrosis , medicine , retinopathy , diabetes mellitus , biology , pathology , inflammation , cancer research , endocrinology , biochemistry , in vitro
Summary We have detected altered expression of chemokines in the vitreous fluid of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy ( PDR ). In the early phase of disease chemokines ( CXCL 8, CCL 2) are involved in leukocyte attraction. Later, CXCL 12 may attract progenitor cells (endothelial cell precursors and fibrocytes) involved in establishment of neovessels and in formation of fibrovascular membranes. The myofibroblasts producing ECM in the fibrovascular membranes of the diabetic patients can originate from endothelial (precursor) cells via endo MT , from fibrocytes or from leukocyte‐like precursors. During the active disease stage also angiostatic chemokines ( CXCL 4, CXCL 4L1 and CXCL 10) are upregulated, probably in an attempt to counteract the stimulatory effects (angiogenesis and increased vascular permeability) of VEGF . Finally, CCL 2 and CXCL 10 have been reported to induce fibrosis and might play a role in the later stages of the pathology. Recently, we have demonstrated that CXCL 4L1, a most potent angiostatic chemokine can be applied therapeutically as VEGF ‐inhibitor in diabetic rats. Indeed, intraocular injections of CXCL 4L1 early after the onset of diabetes protected animals against diabetes‐induced blood‐retinal barrier breakdown.