Vascular endothelial cell dysfunction in diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is complicated with vascular disorders such as atherosclerosis (macroangiopathy) and retinopathy (microangiopathy). In macroangiopathy, AGE plays an important role in atherogesis through NF-kappa B activation, that induces VCAM-1 and MCP-1. Diabetic retinopathy is based on the microangiopathy characteristic of angiogenesis. VEGF is a key substance in the angiogenesis in the retina. VEGF is produced from retinal cells exposed to AGE, adenosine, bFGF. VEGF elictes angiogenesis and increased vascular permeability (retinal edema). I consider that AGE is the most important substance in diabetic vascular disorder. Therefore, I expect a new application for diabetic angiopathy to suppress the effect of AGE.