PlumX Metrics
Embed PlumX Metrics

Early complement activation and decreased levels of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored complement inhibitors in human and experimental diabetic retinopathy

Diabetes, ISSN: 0012-1797, Vol: 51, Issue: 12, Page: 3499-3504
2002
  • 149
    Citations
  • 0
    Usage
  • 46
    Captures
  • 0
    Mentions
  • 0
    Social Media
Metric Options:   Counts1 Year3 Year

Metrics Details

  • Citations
    149
    • Citation Indexes
      145
    • Patent Family Citations
      2
      • Patent Families
        2
    • Policy Citations
      2
      • Policy Citation
        2
  • Captures
    46

Article Description

Diabetic retinal microangiopathy is characterized by increased permeability, leukostasis, microthrombosis, and apoptosis of capillary cells, all of which could be caused or compounded by activation of complement. In this study, we observed deposition of C5b-9, the terminal product of complement activation, in the wall of retinal vessels of human eye donors with 9 ± 3 years of type 2 diabetes, but not in the vessels of age-matched nondiabetic donors. C5b-9 often colocalized with von Willebrand factor in luminal endothelium. C1q and C4, the complement components unique to the classical pathway, were not detected in the diabetic retinas, suggesting that C5b-9 was generated via the alternative pathway, the spontaneous activation of which is regulated by complement inhibitors. The diabetic donors showed a prominent reduction in the retinal levels of CD55 and CD59, the two complement inhibitors linked to the plasma membrane by glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchors, but not in the levels of transmembrane CD46. Similar complement activation in retinal vessels and selective reduction in the levels of retinal CD55 and CD59 were observed in rats with a 10-week duration of streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Thus, diabetes causes defective regulation of complement inhibitors and complement activation that precede most other manifestations of diabetic retinal microangiopathy. These are novel clues for probing how diabetes affects and damages vascular cells.

Provide Feedback

Have ideas for a new metric? Would you like to see something else here?Let us know