The diversity of angiogenesis in diabetic vascular complications

Abstract

Diabetes is one of the major healthcare problems and it is considered a global epidemic of the 21st century. Long lasting hyperglycaemia contributes to the development of vascular diabetic complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy or diabetic foot syndrome (DFS). The pathogenesis of each diabetic complication is multifactorial. Nevertheless, impaired angiogenesis is one potential component that might be common for many diabetic complications. Angiogenesis is a multi-stage process involving the endothelium, growth factors and their inhibitors, cytokines, endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and enzymes. Asfar as angiogenesis is concerned, diabetes is a paradoxical disease. An excessive angiogenesis is noted in retinopathy or nephropathy, while in diabetic foot syndrome the angiogenic response is insufficient.