Journal article
The NLRP3 Inflammasome May Contribute to Pathologic Neovascularization in the Advanced Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy
SS Chaurasia, RR Lim, BH Parikh, YS Wey, BB Tun, TY Wong, CD Luu, R Agrawal, A Ghosh, A Mortellaro, E Rackoczy, RR Mohan, VA Barathi
Scientific Reports | Published : 2018
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a retinal microvascular disease characterized by inflammatory and angiogenic pathways. In this study, we evaluated NLRP3 inflammasome in a double transgenic mouse model, Akimba (Ins2 Akita xVEGF +/-), which demonstrates hyperglycemia, vascular hyperpermeability and neovascularization seen in the proliferative DR. Retinal structural integrity, vascular leakage and function were examined by fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography, retinal flat mounts, laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG), and electroretinography in Akimba and its parental strains, Akita (Ins2 Akita ) and Kimba (trVEGF029) mice. Inflammatory mechanisms involving NLRP3 in..
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Awarded by National Institutes of Health
Funding Acknowledgements
We will like to acknowledge excellent technical support from Ms. Alison Tan and Milan Mehta. The authors would also like to acknowledge start-up grant from Veterinary Medicine and Surgery department to S.S.C. and grants from Veteran Health Affairs Merit (5I01BX000357-05) and National Eye Institute, NIH (2RO1EY017294-06) to R.R.M. This work was also supported partially by grants from the National Medical Research Council, Singapore [NMRC/CG/SERI/2013, VAB] and Biomedical Research Council, Singapore [A*STAR Strategic Position, SiPRAD (IMCB-SERI Program in Retinal Angiogenic Diseases) to WTY & VAB]. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.