Premature vascular senescence during diabetic retinopathy

Diabetes is associated with endothelial dysfunction, which is characterised by increased vascular permeability, deficit in blood perfusion, vessel loss and increased inflammation. Cellular senescence has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetes; however, a role for cellular senescence in diabetic retinopathy is unclear.

Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the senescence profile of human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs), to elucidate how this is affected by the diabetic milieu. <br><br>HRMECs undergo replicative senescence in vitro and they acquire gene and protein expression profiles that are characteristic of a senescent phenotype. Senescent HRMECs show a SASP signature, changes in organelle profiles, loss of endothelial function and metabolic impairment. <br><br>Chronic exposure to high glucose (25mM D-glucose) induces premature senescence in HRMECs.