School of Medicine Publications and Presentations
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-6-2024
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a prevalent complication of diabetes mellitus affecting a significant portion of the global population, has long been viewed primarily as a microvascular disorder. However, emerging evidence suggests that it should be redefined as a neurovascular disease with multifaceted pathogenesis rooted in oxidative stress and advanced glycation end products. The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling family has emerged as a major contributor to DR pathogenesis due to its pivotal role in retinal vascular homeostasis, endothelial cell barrier function, and pericyte differentiation. However, the precise roles of TGF-β signaling in DR remain incompletely understood, with conflicting reports on its impact in different stages of the disease. Additionally, the BMP subfamily within the TGF-β superfamily introduces further complexity, with BMPs exhibiting both pro- and anti-angiogenic properties. Furthermore, TGF-β signaling extends beyond the vascular realm, encompassing immune regulation, neuronal survival, and maintenance. The intricate interactions between TGF-β and reactive oxygen species (ROS), non-coding RNAs, and inflammatory mediators have been implicated in the pathogenesis of DR. This review delves into the complex web of signaling pathways orchestrated by the TGF-β superfamily and their involvement in DR. A comprehensive understanding of these pathways may hold the key to developing targeted therapies to halt or mitigate the progression of DR and its devastating consequences.
Recommended Citation
Callan, A., Jha, S., Valdez, L., Baldado, L., & Tsin, A. (2024). TGF-β Signaling Pathways in the Development of Diabetic Retinopathy. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(5), 3052. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25053052
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Publication Title
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
DOI
10.3390/ijms25053052
Academic Level
faculty
Mentor/PI Department
Neuroscience
Comments
© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).