Promise of endothelial progenitor cell for treatment of diabetic retinopathy

Abstract

Progressive obliteration of the retinal microvessels is a characteristic of diabetic retinopathy. The resultant retinal ischemia leads to sight-threatening neovascularization and macular edema. Bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells play a critical role in vascular maintenance and repair and forms the basis of cellular therapy for revascularization of ischemic myocardium and ischemic limbs. Emerging studies show potential of these cells in revascularization of ischemic retina and this review summarizes this possibility. We also report current pharmacological options to correct diabetes-associated defects in endothelial progenitor cells for their therapeutic transfer.

Keywords::

• diabetic retinopathy
• endothelial nitric oxide synthase
• endothelial progenitor cell

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH1R01 EY07739, NIH R01EY12601), American Heart Post doctoral grant (Ashay Bhatwadekar) and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (Grant 4-2000-847). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.