Abstract:

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the leading causes of visual impairment and loss of vision. Its pathogenesis is complex and involves a variety of cells, molecules that have not yet been fully elucidated. The main pathological features of DR are microvascular dysfunction, in which pericyte loss is an important indicator of DR. The main reasons of pericyte loss include increased production of reactive oxygen species and advanced glycation end products, decreased expression of platelet-derived growth factor, the upregulation of angiopoietin2 and transforming growth factor β and the decrease of pigment epithelium-derived factor. In recent years, great breakthroughs have made on the molecular regulation mechanism of pericytes. This article tried to review the abnormal molecular regulation mechanism of pericytes, which was helpful to the treatment of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy. (Int Rev Ophthalmol, 2017, 41: 300-305)