Molecular and functional effects of methylglyoxal on human microvascular retinal cells (DSB.AD003.056)

Area tematica

Scienze biomediche

Area progettuale

Struttura responsabile del progetto di ricerca

Istituto di genetica e biofisica "Adriano Buzzati Traverso" (IGB)

Altre strutture che collaborano al progetto di ricerca

• Istituto per l'endocrinologia e l'oncologia "Gaetano Salvatore" (IEOS)

Responsabile di progetto

ALFREDO CICCODICOLA
Telefono: 0816132259
E-mail: alfredo.ciccodicola@igb.cnr.it

Abstract

"Molecular and functional effects of methylglyoxal on human microvascular retinal cells". Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of blindness commonly affecting diabetic patients with variable severity. One of the earliest events occurring in diabetic retinas is hyperglycemia-induced functional impairment of microvascular cells (pericytes and endothelial cells). Although oxidative stress and the activation of inflammatory pathways have been reported as key contributors to DR pathogenesis, the molecular mechanisms underlying DR remain to be elucidated. In addition, alterations in the methylation status of DNA, chemical modifications of histones and the activity of regulatory non-coding RNAs have been proposed as pathogenic in DR. A pathogenic role of methylglyoxal (MG) as mediator of hyperglycemia-induced alterations and metabolic memory (i.e. persistence of hyperglycemia induced damage even after glycemic normalization) has been proposed in macrovascular endothelial cells, but its effects on human retinal microvascular cells have not been clarified.

Data inizio attività

01/02/2019

Parole chiave

Diabetic retinopathy, glucotoxicity, metabolic memory

Ultimo aggiornamento: 19/04/2024