Diabetes
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Pericyte loss is an early characteristic change in diabetic retinopathy (DR). Despite accumulating evidence that hyperglycemia-induced angiopoietin 2 (Ang2) has a central role in pericyte loss, the precise molecular mechanism has not been elucidated. This study investigated the role of Ang2 in pericyte loss in DR. ⋯ Although intravitreal injection of Ang2 induced pericyte loss in C57BL/6J mice retina in vivo, intravitreal injection of anti-integrin α3 and β1 antibodies attenuated Ang2-induced pericyte loss. Taken together, Ang2 induced pericyte apoptosis under high glucose via α3β1 integrin. Glycemic control or blocking Ang2/integrin signaling could be a potential therapeutic target to prevent pericyte loss in early DR.