This volume sets the stage for clinical experts working with diabetic patients as well as for researchers by describing the clinical presentations of retinopathy and their anatomical and functional correlates. It reviews currently available experimental models in animals. The impact of retinal pericytes, neuroglia and, specifically, Mueller cells are discussed in detail. The volume addresses a variety of current scientific discussions about mechanisms of damage such as growth factors and the VEGF/PEDF balance in the diabetic eye, the ocular renin-angiotensin system, and leukocyte interactions with the microvasculature among others. Stem and progenitor cells in the retina are discussed as potential directions for future investigation. The final chapters return to emerging clinical aspects, including current approaches to retinopathy as a predictor of cardiovascular risk and how knowledge can be translated from bench to bedside. Bridging a widening gap in medical research between basic scientists, who may lose sight of the clinical presentations, and clinical researchers, who may grow unaware of the limits of experimental models, this volume serves as a reference platform for endocrinologists, diabetologists, ophthalmologists, as well as for scientists involved in clinical and basic research in diabetic retinopathy and other vascular complications of diabetes.
Author(s): H. P. Hammes, M. Porta
Edition: 1
Year: 2009
Language: English
Pages: 232
Contents......Page 6
Preface......Page 8
Abstract......Page 10
Morphological Lesions......Page 11
Pattern of Distribution of Retinopathy Lesions......Page 23
Conclusions......Page 25
References......Page 26
Abstract......Page 29
Physiology of the Blood-Retinal Barrier......Page 30
Molecular Biology of the Blood-Retinal Barrier......Page 31
Pathophysiology of the Blood-Retinal Barrier Breakdown......Page 33
Assays for Studying the Permeability of the Blood-Retinal Barrier......Page 35
Retinal Diseases Where the Blood-Retinal Barrier Is Impaired......Page 37
Medical and Surgical Treatments for Blood-Retinal Barrier Breakdown......Page 41
References......Page 44
Abstract......Page 51
Early Stage of Diabetic Retinopathy, Histopathology......Page 52
Animal Models of Diabetic Retinopathy......Page 54
Conclusions......Page 63
References......Page 64
Pericyte......Page 70
Retinal Pericyte Function......Page 76
Pericyte Loss in Diabetic Retinopathy......Page 77
Mechanisms of Pericyte Loss......Page 79
References......Page 83
Abstract......Page 88
Astrocytes......Page 91
Müller Cells......Page 92
Conclusions......Page 100
References......Page 101
Abstract......Page 107
Role of Müller Glia in Inflammation and Angiogenesis......Page 108
Control of Extracellular Matrix Deposition by Müller Cells......Page 109
Neuroprotective Role of Müller Glia......Page 110
Müller Glial Cells as a Source of Retinal Neurons in the Adult Eye......Page 111
Potential of Müller Stem Cells for the Development of Human Therapies to Restore Retinal Function Damaged by Disease......Page 114
References......Page 115
Abstract......Page 118
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor......Page 120
Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1......Page 125
Platelet-Derived Growth Factor......Page 127
Hepatocyte Growth Factor......Page 128
Connective Tissue Factor......Page 129
Concluding Remarks and Future Clinical Applications......Page 130
References......Page 131
Abstract......Page 133
VEGF and PEDF in the Eye......Page 134
PEDF/VEGF in the Diabetic Retinopathy......Page 135
VEGF/PEDF in Experimental Studies of Diabetic Retinopathy......Page 138
Plasma PEDF Levels – Diabetes and Nephropathy......Page 142
Anti-VEGF Therapy for Diabetic Retinopathy......Page 146
References......Page 147
History of the Renin-Angiotensin System......Page 151
The Circulating Renin-Angiotensin System......Page 152
The Renin-Angiotensin System in the Eye......Page 153
The Ocular Renin-Angiotensin System in Diabetes......Page 154
Molecular Mechanisms of Tissue Damage in Diabetes......Page 157
The Retinal Renin-Angiotensin System and Diabetic Tissue Damage......Page 158
Inhibition of the Renin-Angiotensin System in Diabetic Retinopathy......Page 159
References......Page 162
Multistep Process of Leukocyte Recruitment......Page 167
Regulation of Leukocyte Integrin-Mediated Adhesion......Page 169
Leukocyte Transendothelial Migration......Page 171
Leukocyte-Endothelial Interactions in the Diabetic Retina......Page 172
References......Page 176
Niches......Page 183
Characteristics of a Stem Cell......Page 184
Types of Stem and Precursor Cells......Page 186
Bone Marrow-Derived Cells Participate in Normal Maintenance and Repair of the Endothelium......Page 187
Factors Regulating Stem and Progenitor Cell Involvement in Angiogenesis......Page 188
CD34+ and CD14+ Cells in Diabetes......Page 191
Conclusion......Page 195
References......Page 196
Pericytes Are Cells with a Unique Position in the Microvascular Wall......Page 203
Identification of Pericytes......Page 204
Functions of Pericytes......Page 205
Acknowledgements......Page 209
References......Page 210
Diabetic Retinopathy and Mortality......Page 212
Diabetic Retinopathy and Cerebrovascular Disease......Page 213
Diabetic Retinopathy and Heart Disease......Page 215
Retinal Venules and Cardiovascular Disease......Page 216
Pathogenic Links between Retinopathy and Cardiovascular Disease......Page 217
Genetic Links between Retinopathy and Cardiovascular Disease......Page 218
Implications......Page 220
Conclusion......Page 222
References......Page 223
Abstract......Page 229
References......Page 235
Author Index......Page 237
Subject Index......Page 238
