Effects of VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, and IGF-IR hammerhead ribozymes on glucose-mediated tight junction expression in cultured human retinal endothelial cells.

Abstract

Our studies support that activation of VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, and IGF-IR by high glucose contributes to disruption of tight junctions by decreasing occludin expression and may be important in the pathogenesis of blood-retinal barrier dysfunction in diabetic retinopathy.