Topic: Diabetic retinopathy

Tusc5 is a transmembrane protein that assists trafficking of Glucose transporters molecules in adipocites. We and others have previously described Tusc5 in projection sensory neurons. Glut4 transporters (localized in muscles and adipocytes) are continuously recycled through endosomes from and to the plasma membrane and stored in GSVs (Glut4 Storage Vesicles). In adipocites, Tusc5 follows Glut4 trafficking between GSVs and cell surface, upon insulin stimulation. Tusc5 interacts with the signaling cascade of fusion of GSVs with the plasma membrane, similar to the exocytosis mechanism in neuronal

Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a common complication of diabetes, is a leading cause of blindness among working-age individuals worldwide. Traditionally, DR was considered primarily a microvascular complication, categorized as either nonproliferative or proliferative based on neovascularization presence. However, emerging evidence suggested that neurodegeneration plays a crucial role in DR beyond its microvascular aspects. Neurotrophic factors, such as nerve growth factor (NGF), have significant effects on neuronal survival. In the visual system, NGF influences retina and optic nerve development,