Bioactive Lipids in Pathological Retinopathy

Abstract

Diabetic retinopathy is a common condition that occurs in patients with diabetes with long-standing hyperglycemia that is characterized by inappropriate angiogenesis. This pathological angiogenesis could be a sort of physiological proliferative response to injury by the endothelium. Recent studies suggested that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a significant role in this angiogenesis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent angiogenic growth factor that plays a significant role in diabetic retinopathy. The interaction between VEGF and ROS, and theirs in turn with pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and anti-inflammatory bioactive lipid molecules such as lipoxins, resolvins, protectins, and maresins is particularly relevant to understand the pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy and develop future therapeutic interventions.

Keywords:

• Reactive oxygen species
• vascular endothelial growth factor
• angiogenesis
• diabetic retinopathy
• lipoxins
• resolvins
• cytokines
• inflammation

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

UND was in receipt of the Ramalingaswami Fellowship of the Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi, India, during the tenure of this study.