Pathological angiogenesis is the hallmark of proliferative diabetic retinopathy that results from the advanced stage of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR). In response to prolonged tissue injury, retinal microvascular endothelial cells form new blood vessels to ensure the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the eye; however, progressive fibrovascular proliferation can eventually lead to retinal detachment and blindness. Caspase-8, the responsible protease for apoptosis has also been shown to modulate pathological and developmental angiogenesis but whether it exerts this role in a hyperglycemic environment has not yet been explored. Here we demonstrate that Caspase-8 decreased cell viability and was upregulated in hyperglycemic HRMEC. In addition, Caspase-8 K.D. resulted in inhibition of cell migration. Taken together, our data suggest that Caspase-8 plays a role that is involved in cell migration in HRMEC
