Evidence mapPaperPMID 40999978Full record

ReviewInternational journal of molecular medicine2025

Mechanisms of action of retinal microglia in diabetic retinopathy (Review).

Yuyang Bai, Xinrong Wang, Fan Qi, Xiaoyang Zuo, Gang Zou

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in International journal of molecular medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Yuyang BaiThird Clinical Medical College, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region 750001, P.R. China.
Xinrong WangThird Clinical Medical College, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region 750001, P.R. China.
Fan QiThird Clinical Medical College, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region 750001, P.R. China.
Xiaoyang ZuoThird Clinical Medical College, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region 750001, P.R. China.
Gang ZouDepartment of Ophthalmology, Ningxia Eye Hospital, People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Third Clinical School of Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region 750001, P.R. China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a leading cause of blindness in diabetic microvascular complications, is pathologically associated with the dynamic regulation of retinal microglia. The present review systematically elucidated the dual roles of microglia in DR pathogenesis. Under physiological conditions, microglia maintain blood‑retinal barrier (BRB) integrity by phagocytosing metabolic debris and secreting neurotrophic factors. However, hyperglycaemic stress induces pathological M1 polarization, triggering a cytokine storm (TNF‑α and IL‑1β) via the Toll‑like receptor 4/myeloid differentiation primary response 88/NF‑κB signalling axis, which synergizes with proangiogenic factors (such as VEGF and insulin‑like growth factor 1) to exacerbate BRB breakdown and pathological neovascularization. Notably, activated microglia amplify inflammatory cascades through astrocyte‑Müller cell interaction networks, accelerating neurovascular unit dysfunction. Emerging therapeutic strategies targeting microglial polarization homeostasis (such as promoting M2 anti‑inflammatory phenotypic shifts) and blocking critical inflammatory signalling pathways present novel opportunities for developing multitarget therapeutic agents with combined neuroprotective and anti‑vasopermeability properties. By elucidating microglial heterogeneity and intercellular regulatory networks, the present review highlighted the importance of precise modulation of immune homeostasis in DR management, providing a theoretical foundation for overcoming the limitations of single‑target therapies.

Indexed as

Diabetic RetinopathyMicrogliaRetinaAnimalsBlood-Retinal BarrierHumansSignal Transductionblood‑retinal barrierdiabetic retinopathymicroglial cellneurovascular unittargeted therapy

Identifiers

PMID40999978
PMCPMC12488210

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.