Inactivation of Endothelial ADAM17 Reduces Retinal Ischemia-Reperfusion Induced Neurovascular Abnormalities

Abstract

Retinal ischemia contributes to visual impairment in ischemic retinopathies such as diabetic retinopathy and other potentially blinding conditions. A member of the ADAM family of a disintegrin and metalloproteinases, ADAM17, contributes to multiple vascular pathologies through its ability to regulate inflammatory signals via ectodomain shedding. Here we investigated the specific contribution of endothelial ADAM17 to neurovascular damage associated with retinal ischemia using a mouse model of ischemiareperfusion (IR) injury.