Noncoding RNAs Are Promising Therapeutic Targets for Diabetic Retinopathy: An Updated Review (2017–2022)

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common complication of diabetes. It is also the main cause of blindness caused by multicellular damage involving retinal endothelial cells, ganglial cells, and pigment epithelial cells in adults worldwide. Currently available drugs for DR do not meet the clinical needs; thus, new therapeutic targets are warranted. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), a new type of biomarkers, have attracted increased attention in recent years owing to their crucial role in the occurrence and development of DR. NcRNAs mainly include microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, and circular RNAs, all of which regulate gene and protein expression, as well as multiple biological processes in DR. NcRNAs, can regulate the damage caused by various retinal cells; abnormal changes in the aqueous humor, exosomes, blood, tears, and the formation of new blood vessels. This study reviews the different sources of the three ncRNAs—microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, and circular RNAs—involved in the pathogenesis of DR and the related drug development progress. Overall, this review improves our understanding of the role of ncRNAs in various retinal cells and offers therapeutic directions and targets for DR treatment.