Epigenetic modifications in diabetic retinopathy / 中华眼底病杂志

ABSTRACT

Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation,histone post-translational modifications,non-coding RNA are reversible,heritable alterations which are induced by environmental stimuli.Major risk factors of diabetes and diabetic complications including hyperglycemia,oxidative stress and advanced glycation end products,can lead to abnormal epigenetic modifications in retinal vascular endothelial cells and retinal pigment epithelium cells.Epigenetic mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of macular edema and neovascularization of diabetic retinopathy (DR),as well as diabetic metabolic memory.The heritable nature of epigenetic marks also plays a key role in familial diabetes mellitus.Further elucidation of epigenetic mechanisms in DR can open the way for the discovery of novel therapeutic targets to prevent DR progression.