Intestinal neutrophil extracellular traps promote gut barrier damage exacerbating endotoxaemia, systemic inflammation and progression of diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes.

ABSTRACT:

Aims/hypothesis

Within the small intestine, neutrophils play an integral role in preventing bacterial infection. Upon interaction with bacteria or bacteria-derived antigens, neutrophils initiate a multi-staged response of which the terminal stage is NETosis, formation of protease-decorated nuclear DNA into extracellular traps. NETosis has a great propensity to elicit ocular damage and has been associated with diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular oedema (DME) progression. Here, we interrogate the relationship between gut barrier dysfunction, endotoxaemia and systemic and intestinal neutrophilia in diabetic retinopathy.

Methods

In a cohort of individuals with type 2 diabetes (n=58) with varying severity of diabetic retinopathy and DME, we characterised the abundance of ci

SUBMITTER: Floyd JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11950064 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature