Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a serious microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus. Mesenchymal stem cells are currently studied as therapeutic strategy for management of DR. Exosomes, considered as a
promising cell-free therapy option, display biological functions similar to those of their parent cells. In retinal
development, Wnt/b-catenin signaling provides key cues for functional progression. The present study aimed to
Abbreviations: Anti-VEGF, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor; BM-MSCs-Ex, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes; DM, diabetes
mellitus; DR, diabetic retinopathy; Fz, frizzled; GCL, ganglionic cell layer; GFAP, glial fibrillary acidic protein; GSK3b, glycogen synthase kinase-3b; IHC, immunohistochemistry; ILM, inner limiting membrane; INL, inner nuclear layer; IPL, inner plexiform layer; LRP5/6, low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein; NFL,
nerve fiber layer; OLM, outer limiting membrane; ONL, outer nuclear layer; PRL, photoreceptor layer; RPE, retinal pigment epithelial; STZ, streptozotocin; TNF-α,
tumor necrosis factor-α. |
