Topographic relationship between glial cells and neovessels of the epiretinal membrane in proliferative diabetic retinopathy depends on the phase of angiogenesis

Our study found no evidence of direct interaction between GCs and leading neovessels in PDR, opposite to what was shown in embryonic retinal angiogenesis. The findings may suggest that the presence of GCs near the neovascular cluster epicenter and around leading capillaries reflects different phases of the proliferative process in PDR. In the first case, GFAP+ cells appear to be involved in the involution of neovessels, which occurs during vascular remodeling or regression. In the second case, when GCs were located around the leading neovessels, their proliferation was not directly related to blood vessel formation; in our opinion, these processes may represent independent events that might have common triggers.