Emerging role of extracellular vesicles in diabetic retinopathy

Abstract

Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a complex complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), is a leading cause of adult blindness. Hyperglycemia triggers DR, resulting in microvascular damage, glial apoptosis, and neuronal degeneration. Inflammation and oxidative stress play crucial roles during this process. Current clinical treatments for DR primarily target the advanced retinal disorder but offer limited benefits with inevitable side effects. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) exhibit unique morphological features, contents, and biological properties and can be found in cell culture supernatants, various body fluids, and tissues. In DR, EVs with specific cargo composition would induce the reaction of receptor cell once internalized, mediating cellular communication and disease progression. Increasing evidence indicates that monitoring changes in EV quantity and content in DR can aid in disease diagnosis and prognosis. Furthermore, extensive research is investigating the potential of these nanoparticles as effective therapeutic agents in preclinical models of DR. This review explores the current understanding of the pathological effects of EVs in DR development, discusses their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic strategies, and paves the way for further research and therapeutic advancements.

The Role of Natural Products in Diabetic Retinopathy

“…A survey by the International Diabetes Federation indicated that in 2021, approximately 537 million individuals aged 20–79 years were diagnosed with DM. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a severe complication of DM, and persistent hyperglycemia and hypertension can lead to retinal dysfunction, thus ultimately resulting in significant visual impairment and even blindness [ 1 ]. Factors such as hyperglycemia, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and duration of DM are associated with increased risks of DR [ 2 , 3 ].…”

Contribution of extracellular vesicles for the pathogenesis of retinal diseases: shedding light on blood-retinal barrier dysfunction

“…A comprehensive understanding of EV-mediated disease mechanisms requires exploration of their entire cargo. Some interesting reviews about non-miRNA content in EVs on AMD and DR pathological process have already been published [11,12]. This review aims to give an overview also of some non-miRNA content, but specially to provide a more in-depth comprehension of the role of miRNA-containing EVs in the pathogenesis of retinal degenerative diseases.…”