Possible mechanism of retinal vascular endothelial cell dysfunction and neuroretinal degeneration in diabetic patients. Fundus photos of eyes from diabetic retinopathy accompanied by macular oedema (Panel
A), modified from [42]. The neurovascular unit of the retina (retinal ganglion cells, Müller cells, microglia, astrocytes, endothelial cells, pericytes, and other). (Panel
B), modified from [43]. The selected factors involved in the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy. AGEs—advanced glycation end products, RAGEs—receptor for advanced glycation end products, VEGF- vascular endothelial growth factor, IGF-I—insulin like growth factor, PLGF—placental growth factor, HGF—hepatocyte growth factor, PEDF pigment epithelium derived factor, bFGF—basic fibroblast growth factor, TGF-beta. transforming growth factor beta, MMPs—metalloproteinases PDGF-platelet-derived growth factor, EGF-Epidermal growth factor, Ang-2—Angiopoietin-2, (Panel
C), modified from [42,43].