Abstract
Fibrosis in ocular tissues causes severe visual deterioration and blindness in patients with glaucoma, cataract, age related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR). Currently available anti-fibrotic agents exhibit undesirous cytotoxic effects and thus prove ineffective to treat post-surgical fibrosis. Accordingly, there is a need to develop efficient and novel anti-fibrotic agents. Adiponectin (APN), an adipokine from adipocytes is increased in the aqueous and vitreous humor of the patients with micro-angiopathy and chronic inflammation. Furthermore, it is reported to be elevated in the subretinal fluid, vitreous and epiretinal membrane of patients with AMD, proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) respectively.Since APN has anti-angiogenic activity and reduces VEGF levels, we hypothesize that APN might regulate the angio-fibrotic switch and drive the formation of fibrovascular membrane at advanced stages of AMD, PVR and PDR. Intriguingly, APN is shown to inhibit liver, cardiac and pulmonary fibrosis, yet it accelerates renal fibrosis. Therefore, the factors such as tissue and cell type, disease specific pathological milieu and the choice of APN receptor interaction could determine the pro- or anti-fibrotic nature of APN. We speculate that APN could play a profibrotic role in the posterior segment of the eye.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
