Figure 8
A schema showing the involvement of AGE-triggered inflammatory cues linking to galectin-1 upregulation in the pathogenesis of DR. AGE accumulation due to prolonged hyperglycemia triggers cellular (macrophage) and molecular (IL-1β) inflammatory cues linking to glial galectin-1 production, explaining the DR-selective elevation of galectin-1 along with disease activity (Fig. 1A). Galectin-1 binds to VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 in endothelial cells, leading to vascular leakage16 and angiogenesis14,15, respectively.
