VEGFA and non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy: There might be a correlation between the elevated stimulation of NF-*B in NPDR as well as PDR sufferers and the increased expression of VEGF (119). VEGF induces the expression of MCP-1, IL-8, TNF-α and ICAM-1 in retinal endothelial cells via stimulating the NF-kB pathway (61).