Epigenetic Modifications and Potential New Treatment Targets in Diabetic Retinopathy

Figure 3

Hyperglycemia-induced pathways leading to epigenetic alteration. Schematic representation of hyperglycemia-induced epigenetic modifications. Hyperglycemia first enhances oxidative damage, which activates several pathways such as the hexosamine pathway, PKC, AGE/RAGE pathway. All these pathways contribute to the modifications of the histone code and activate the NF-κB transcription factor. Moreover, they are inducing alterations in DNA methylation. These modifications lead to epigenetic alteration, which contribute to maintaining the metabolic memory, leading to neurovascular dysfunction in DR.