Glucose and reactive metabolites in the diabetic retina - preventive approaches against Vasoregression (C03+)

• Subject Area: Endocrinology, Diabetology, Metabolism
• Term: from 2014 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 236360313

Reactive metabolites initiate a damage pattern comparable to diabetic retinopathy. All cells of the neurovascular unit of the retina are involved. While activated microglia contributes to vascular damage, activated glia seems to be protective by the regulation of small heat shock proteins. This results in a paradigm shift: diabetic retinopathy is not a microangiopathy, but a damage to the neurovascular unit. With a view to personalization and translation into the clinic, we propose to investigate mechanisms of detoxification and preconditioning as well as hormonal influences on reactive carbonyl stress.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1118: Reactive metabolites as a cause of diabetes complications
• Applicant Institution: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
• Co-Applicant Institution: Universität Mannheim
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Hans-Peter Hammes