“…This could imply that the phagocytic amoeboid morphotype is more actively involved in later stages of clinical DR, however, further validation and a greater sample size is necessary. In terms of microglia-associated factors, there have been reports showing early changes in expression of CD11b, C1r, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, in the context of DR-associated pathologies e.g., vascular permeability, neuronal function, and neovascularisation ( Rangasamy et al, 2014 ; Karlstetter et al, 2015 ; Madeira et al, 2015 ; Kinuthia et al, 2020 ; Li et al, 2021 ; Xie et al, 2021 ; Yun, 2021 ). Such changes in expression have also been correlated with amoeboid and activated microglia, microglial ‘activation’, apoptosis, and phagocytosis ( Rangasamy et al, 2014 ; Karlstetter et al, 2015 ; Madeira et al, 2015 ; Kinuthia et al, 2020 ; Li et al, 2021 ; Xie et al, 2021 ; Yun, 2021 ).…”