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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2022 Sep 1.
Published in final edited form as: Prog Retin Eye Res. 2021 Jan 8;84:100940. doi: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2021.100940

Figure 2. The complex multi-cellular dysfunction in diabetic retinopathy.

Figure 2.

Diabetes virtually affects all retinal cells in a sequence that remains hard to elucidate as they function as a neurovascular unit and influence each other. (1) Vessel dysfunction reflects pericytes and endothelial cells dysfunction and loss, a phenomenon influenced by factors secreted by dying neurons and activated micro- and macroglia. (2) Microglia (brown) and macroglia (green) become activated in response to the alteration of the retinal environment associated with diabetes, a phenomenon enhanced by neuronal cell death and vascular preturbations. (3) Alteration of the retinal homeostasis by diabetes leads to neuronal dysfunction and ultimately cell death, a phenomenon enhanced by the increasingly pro-inflammatory environment and vascular perturbations.