Inflammation and Pharmacological Treatment in Diabetic Retinopathy

Table 2

Anti-inflammatory therapy of diabetic retinopathy.

Drug	Target	Anti-inflammatory mechanism
Corticosteroids; Triamcinolone acetonide; Fluocinolone acetonide; Dexamethasone	Glucocorticoide receptor	Proinflammatory transcription factors blockade
VEGF inhibitors; Pegaptanib; Bevacizumab; Ranibizumab	VEGF	Blocking VEGF-mediated inflammation, vascular permeability, and angiogenesis
NSAID	COX	Inhibition of proinflammatory, prostaglandins production
Vitamins C, E	Oxidative stress	Antioxidative stress
Blocking RAS; Losartan, Candesartan, and Enalapril	RAS	Blocking RAS-mediated inflammation
Blocking inflammatory molecules; Etanercept, Infliximab	TNF-α	Blocking TNF-α-induced inflammation

VEGF: vascular endothelial growth factor; NSAID: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug; COX: cyclooxygenase; RAS: renin-angiotensin system; TNF-α: tumour necrosis factor-alpha.