In a new study, researchers found a cellular process that occurs in the retinas of people with diabetic retinopathy.
This discovery could lead to the development of a treatment for this serious complication of diabetes.
The research was conducted by a team at the Center intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal.
Diabetic retinopathy is characterized by vascular degeneration and later the formation of abnormal blood vessels in the retina.
This vascular proliferation compromises the nerve cells that carry information from the eyes to the brain.
The study showed that to stop abnormal vascular proliferation, blood vessels apply a series of molecular “brakes” that become activated in a way similar to an accelerated version of natural cellular aging.
These mechanisms culminate in a process called cellular senescence, which eventually causes tissue scarring in the retina.
When in senescence mode, blood vessels produce inflammatory molecules that become targets of immune cells called neutrophils.
The study shows that neutrophils arrive in the retina, later on, to help clean and remodel damaged blood vessels.
The results imply that the destruction of senescent blood vessels leads to beneficial vascular remodeling.
The study, therefore, provides insight into the general function of endothelial cells and how they predispose older populations to complications such as heart attack, atherosclerosis, and strokes.
One author of the study is Dr. Przemyslaw (Mike) Sapieha.
The study is published in Science.
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