A PROPOSED CELLULAR SIGNALING ETIOLOGY FOR RETINOPATHY IN INDIVIDUALS WITH METABOLIC SYNDROME

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome is a collection of adverse health conditions that increase the likelihood of macrovascular complications such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. The main components of metabolic syndrome are accumulation of fat in the abdomen, insulin resistance, and high blood pressure. As metabolic syndrome affects about 30% of the United States population, specific health interventions and educational programs can be put in place to encourage healthier lifestyles, adequate exercise, and nutritious diets. Diabetes affects about 10% of the United States population. Current trends in unhealthy diets, sedentary lifestyles, and poor health behaviors contribute as factors to an increasing incidence in Type II diabetes; this is commonly known as the diabetes epidemic. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of vision loss after onset of diabetes. Current knowledge in the scientific literature regarding diabetic retinopathy focuses on the neurovascular unit — a collection of neural, immune, and endothelial cells — and the blood retina barrier. With proper cellular signaling, both components maintain the health of the retina by regulating the movement of waste, nutrients, fluids, and other solutes. This paper aims to investigate the cellular signaling aspect of diabetic retinopathy and its relationship to the components of metabolic syndrome.