Leukocyte-mediated endothelial cell injury and death in the diabetic retina

Am J Pathol. 2001 Jan;158(1):147-52. doi: 10.1016/S0002-9440(10)63952-1.

Abstract

Endothelial cell death is a hallmark of diabetic retinopathy. Its occurrence is required for the formation of acellular (devitalized) capillaries, lesions that produce irreversible retinal ischemia through their inability to support blood flow. The mechanisms underlying diabetic retinal endothelial cell injury and death remain largely unknown. The current study demonstrates that adherent leukocytes are temporally and spatially associated with retinal endothelial cell injury and death within 1 week of streptozotocin-induced experimental diabetes in rats. Moreover, the antibody-based neutralization of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and CD18 is shown to prevent both leukocyte adhesion and retinal endothelial cell injury and death. These data highlight the central and causal role of adherent leukocytes in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. They also underscore the potential utility of anti-intercellular adhesion molecule1- and anti-CD18-based therapies in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy, a newly recognized inflammatory disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
  • CD18 Antigens / immunology
  • CD18 Antigens / metabolism
  • Cell Adhesion / drug effects
  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Diabetic Retinopathy / chemically induced
  • Diabetic Retinopathy / pathology*
  • Diabetic Retinopathy / prevention & control
  • Endothelium, Vascular / cytology*
  • Fluorescein Angiography
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / immunology
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism
  • Leukocytes / cytology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Long-Evans
  • Retinal Vessels / drug effects
  • Retinal Vessels / metabolism
  • Retinal Vessels / pathology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • CD18 Antigens
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1