Year: 2026
Type: review
Abstract: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of preventable blindness in working-age adults globally. Current therapies mainly target advanced vascular lesions, leaving early metabolic and inflammatory dysregulation unaddressed. Dysregulated lipid metabolism acts as a critical upstream initiator of DR, converging with oxidative stress and chronic inflammation to form a self-amplifying pathogenic loop driving retinal neurovascular degeneration. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are master transcriptional regulators linking lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation. This review systematically delineates the synergistic pathogenic network in DR, comprehensively discusses the pleiotropic retinal protective effects of PPARα and PPARγ, and summarizes the latest advances in PPAR-targeted nano-drug delivery systems that overcome the limitations of traditional agonists. Finally, we highlight key challenges and future directions to advance precision therapy for DR.
Institution: China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences
Language: English
Subfield: Ophthalmology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,800
Award: G6284557827
OpenAlex ID: W7223064810