# Efferocytosis: a therapeutic strategy for diabetes and its vascular complications

## TL;DR

This review explores how impaired efferocytosis contributes to diabetes and its vascular complications, suggesting new therapeutic strategies.

## Contribution

The paper identifies efferocytosis-related molecules as novel therapeutic targets for diabetic vascular complications.

## Key findings

- Defective efferocytosis is linked to the progression of diabetes and its vascular complications.
- Molecules involved in efferocytosis offer potential for new clinical treatments.
- Impaired clearance of apoptotic cells contributes to chronic inflammation in diabetes.

## Abstract

Efferocytosis is a continuous multistep process that efficiently clears dead cells and is essential for maintaining homeostasis in multicellular organisms. Under normal circumstances, apoptotic cells release “find-me” and “eat-me” signals that stimulate their engulfment and clearance. However, in many chronic inflammatory diseases, the clearance of apoptotic cells is significantly impaired. This review explores the relationship between defective efferocytosis and diabetes-related vascular complications, while investigating underlying pathophysiological mechanisms to identify novel therapeutic targets for disease management.

After searching in PubMed and Web of Science databases using ‘efferocytosis’, ‘diabetic vascular complications’, and ‘efferocytosis-based therapy’ as keywords, studies related were compiled and examined.

This review summarizes the specific process of phagocytes engulfing and clearing dead cells, and explains the development of diabetes and its vascular complications from the perspective of defects in efferocytosis.

The review points out that molecules and pathways associated with efferocytosis are potential targets for treating diabetic vascular complications, providing new ideas for clinical treatment.