Figure 2.

Possible mechanisms underlying microglial activation and subsequent inflammatory responses in diabetic retinopathy. Ramified microglia are influenced by hyperglycemia, alterations in ischemia, vessel leakage and upregulation of various mediators. Microglia activation means morphological changes, proliferation and migration. This activation results in an inflammatory response, including downregulation (down arrow) of cytokine IL-10 and growth factors as well as upregulation (up arrow) of various cytokines, chemokines and neurotoxins.