The Interaction between the Renin-Angiotensin System and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in the Pathogenesis of Retinal Neovascularization in Diabetes

Vol. 38, No. 6, 2001

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Review

The Interaction between the Renin-Angiotensin System and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in the Pathogenesis of Retinal Neovascularization in Diabetes
Jennifer L. Wilkinson-Berka^a, Darren J. Kelly^b, Richard E. Gilbert^b

^aDepartment of Physiology, The University of Melbourne,
^bDepartment of Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Address of Corresponding Author

J Vasc Res 2001;38:527-535 (DOI: 10.1159/000051088)

Key Words

Diabetes
Retinopathy
Renin
Angiotensin
Vascular endothelial growth factor

Abstract

Despite the use of laser photocoagulation and knowledge of the beneficial effects of good glycaemic control, visual loss due to diabetic retinopathy remains the commonest cause of blindness in the working population. This visual loss is principally the result of proliferative diabetic retinopathy and macular oedema. The processes by which diabetes mellitus results in retinopathy are incompletely understood, but recent evidence has suggested a pathogenetic role for the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the eye in response to chronic hyperglycaemia. This review will explore evidence of a local RAS in the eye, the involvement of VEGF in diabetic retinopathy and the interaction between the RAS and VEGF in the pathogenesis of retinal neovascularization.

Author Contacts

Dr. Jennifer L. Wilkinson-Berka
Department of Physiology, The University of Melbourne
Grattan Street
Parkville, Vic. 3010 (Australia)
Tel. +61 3 83445849, Fax +61 3 83445818, E-Mail j.berka@physiology.unimelb.edu.au

Article Information

Received: Received: April 23, 2001
Accepted after revision: July 19, 2001
Number of Print Pages : 9
Number of Figures : 3, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 102

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