Pharmaceutica Analytica Acta

Abstract

An Insight in to the Pathogenesis of Diabetic Vascular Diseases: Role of Oxidative Stress and Antioxidants

Aditi, Nipun Mahajan, Shruti Rawal and Rajesh Katare

The profound effects of hyperglycaemia on the vascular tree are the major causes of morbidity and mortality among patients suffering from diabetes. Diabetic Vascular Diseases (DVD) includes accelerated forms of atherosclerosis due to endothelial dysfunction and microangiopathy of retinal vessels. A host of several studies indicate that increased oxidative stress play a pivotal role in the development and progression of diabetic vascular diseases. The metabolic abnormalities due to oxidative stress are linked to the structural and functional changes in the vasculature, consequently resulting in atherosclerosis and diabetic retinopathy. Oxidative stress brings alterations in downstream transcription factors which result in changes in gene expression, myocardial substrate utilization, myocyte growth, endothelial function and myocardial compliance. Based on this, an approach towards investigating new and effective antioxidant therapies could serve as potential therapeutic implications in preventing the deleterious effects of oxidative stress on vasculature. This review aims to understand the underlying mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of vascular complications in diabetes with special emphasis on the role of oxidative stress towards development of these complications and also describe the role of antioxidants as therapeutic interventions for DVD.