VE-cadherin and vascular dysfunction in Diabetic Retinopathy

This dissertation describes a novel regulatory pathway for increased microvascular permeability in the diabetic retina. Breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) is a central event in the progression of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR). In Chapters 2 and 3, we demonstrate that the proteolytic degradatio...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author Navaratna, Deepti
Format Dissertation
LanguageEnglish
Published ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01.01.2008
Subjects
Epidemiology
Ophthalmology
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Summary:This dissertation describes a novel regulatory pathway for increased microvascular permeability in the diabetic retina. Breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) is a central event in the progression of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR). In Chapters 2 and 3, we demonstrate that the proteolytic degradation of vascular endothelial cadherin (VEcadherin) by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) might be a novel mechanism by which the blood-retinal barrier is altered in diabetes and that VE-cadherin engagement is a major determinant of retinal permeability. In chapter 4, the role of VE-cadherin in the cellular events preceding angiogenesis such as cell migration, proliferation and tubule formation was investigated. This study identifies VE-cadherin as a potential target for therapeutic intervention in proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
ISBN:0549677453
9780549677451