Identification of new genes and pathways involved in the vasoregression mimicking diabetic retinopathy

Aims: Diabetic retinopathy is the most common microangiopathy in diabetes. It is morphologically characterized by vasoregression including pericyte loss and increased formation of acellular capillaries. Recently, we characterized a transgenic rat with a universal overexpression of PKD-2, in which c- terminal polycystein-2 is truncated. The transgenic rats showed severe vasoregression in the retinas at the second month of life. To elucidate the mechanisms of vasoregression in the retina, we analysed transcriptional alterations in this transgenic rats. Materials and methods: Profiles of gene expression were evalua…