Fig. 2.

Dysregulation of cholesterol metabolism in diabetes and immune system. In a healthy retina (control), oxidation of cholesterol to oxysterols, LXR activation and production of ABCA1 and ABCG1 maintains cholesterol homeostasis. However, in diabetes, the disruption of these processes can lead to hypercholesterolaemia and CC formation, which can activate the innate immune system and trigger the NLRP3 inflammasome. CCs, when interacting with innate immune receptors, can enhance tissue damage and initiate inflammatory responses though secretion of IL-1β and inflammation. This can lead to HSC epigenetic reprogramming resulting in the differentiation of HSC towards the monocyte lineage, neutrophil activation and NETosis, and macrophage activation and foam cell formation. ApoE, apolipoprotein E. This figure is available as part of a downloadable slideset