The mRNA expression of SIRT1 and SIRT3 was found to be significantly higher in diabetic patients with retinopathy compared to those without retinopathy.
SIRT1 can control stem cell proliferation, block neuronal injury through limiting programmed cell death, drive vascular cell survival, and control clinical disorders that include dementia and retinopathy.
Together these results indicate that although endogenous Sirt1 is important as a stress-induced protector in retinopathy, over-expression of Sirt1 or treatment with small molecule activators at the examined doses do not provide additional protection against retinopathy in mice.