Diabetic retinopathy (DR) isacommon cause of blindness, its occurrence and development are the synergic results of multiple factors. Current studies suggest that inflammation and inflammatory factor has an important role in the pathogenesis of DR. The occurrence and development of DR are closely related with interleukins, intercellular adhesion molecules, hasten factors, tumor necrosis factor, C-reactive protein etc. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are pluripotent cells derived from the mesoderm and have multiple differentiation potentials, and anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive function. Recent studies shown that MSCs transplantation can protect damaged retina by inflammatory regulation, which becomeanew research direction for DR treatment.
The classical Hippo pathway leads to the phosphorylation of downstream effector molecules Hippo-Yes-associated protein (Yap) and transcriptional coactivator PDZ-binding motif (Taz) serine sites through a kinase response, thereby promoting cell proliferation, controlling cell polarity, changing cytoskeleton, it plays an important regulatory role in various pathophysiological processes such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition and inhibition of cell contact. Studies have shown that Yap/Taz can affect the progression of vitreoretinal diseases, opening up new prospects for the pathogenesis and clinical treatment of diabetic retinopathy, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, and retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury. Exploring the molecular mechanism of Yap/Taz provides a possible therapeutic target for future research in the treatment of retinal fibrosis diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and proliferative vitreoretinopathy. At the same time, regulating the activity of local Yap/Taz in the retina will also become an effective therapeutic target for damage-repair in retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, Yap inhibitors have potential retinal toxicity and are still in the preclinical development stage. Further research on the mechanism of action and clinical safety of Yap inhibitors will provide new methods for the treatment of retinal diseases.
Microvesicles (MVs) is small membrane vesicles released from different cell types under different conditions. Studies have shown that MVs may mediate vascular inflammation, angiogenesis, and other pathological processes. MVs may play an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR) by mediating endothelial cell injury, thrombosis and neovascularization. The plasma MV level may be an effective parameter to monitor the development of DR. This article will summarize the research progress of the relationship between MVs and DR in recent years.