Angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker may aid diabetic retinopathy treatment

Using olmesartan, an angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker that contains antioxidative properties, to block the renin-angiotensin system may help protect against diabetic retinopathy by attenuating the deleterious effects of advanced glycation end products, according to a study by researchers in Japan.

"Olmesartan inhibits [advanced glycation end product-evoked] inflammatory reactions in [endothelial cells] by suppressing [reactive oxygen species] generation," the authors said.

Sho-ichi Yamagishi, MD, and colleagues at Kurume University School of Medicine and Hokuriku University in Kanazawa evaluated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and gene and protein expression to determine whether olmesartan may inhibit the inflammatory reactions in endothelial cells by suppressing ROS generation.

"Olmesartan significantly inhibited the [advanced glycation end product-evoked] ROS generation and reduced the expression levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 in microvascular [endothelial cells]," the authors said.

"Olmesartan also suppressed intercellular-adhesion molecule 1 expression in, and subsequently blocked T-cell adhesion to, [advanced glycation end product-exposed endothelial cells]," they added.

The study is published in the December edition of Ophthalmic Research.