ANGPT2 and Hyperglycemia: In diabetic animals, angiopietin-2 is upregulated in retinal tissues, and similarly, hyperglycemia induces the expression of Ang-2 in isolated retinal endothelial cells.59 Thus, Ang-2 appears to play an important role in increased vasopermeability in DR, and thus appears to be an attractive target in addition to VEGF.