Journal
EXPERIMENTAL EYE RESEARCH
Volume 133, Issue -, Pages 58-68Publisher
ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2014.08.011
Keywords
diabetic retinopathy; extracellular matrix; basement membrane; gap junction; connexin; fibronectin; laminin; collagen type IV
Categories
Funding
- NIH, NEI 018218 [018218]
- Massachusetts Lions Eye Research Fund
- MSSRP award
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The vascular basement membrane (BM) contains extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins that assemble in a highly organized manner to form a supportive substratum for cell attachment facilitating myriad functions that are vital to cell survival and overall retinal homeostasis. The BM provides a microenvironment in which bidirectional signaling through integrins regulates cell attachment, turnover, and functionality. In diabetic retinopathy, the BM undergoes profound structural and functional changes, and recent studies have brought to light the implications of such changes. Thickened vascular BM in the retinal capillaries actively participate in the development and progression of characteristic changes associated with diabetic retinopathy. High glucose (HG)-induced compromised cell cell communication via gap junctions (GJ) in retinal vascular cells may disrupt homeostasis in the retinal microenvironment. In this review, the role of altered ECM synthesis, compromised GJ activity, and disturbed retinal homeostasis in the development of retinal vascular lesions in diabetic retinopathy are discussed. (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available