Emerging role of circular RNAs in diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a significant complication that affects the retina of individuals with diabetes, poses a severe threat to their visual health. DR is classified into stages ranging from non-proliferative to proliferative forms. As the disease progresses, pathological neovascularization and hemorrhage in the retina or vitreous can occur, potentially leading to vision impairment or blindness. Current treatments for DR include intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs and surgical interventions such as laser photocoagulation. However, these treatments are associated with various complications and side effects. Therefore, cellular and epigenetic studies are necessary to better understand the pathogenesis of DR, which may lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Several studies have demonstrated the role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the pathogenesis and progression of DR. CircRNAs have been shown to regulate the expression of genes involved in the proliferation, differentiation, or angiogenesis of different retinal cells, thereby influencing their function. Therefore, this review aims to investigate the role of circRNAs in different retinal cell types in DR and evaluate their potential as diagnostic and therapeutic targets for the disease.