VEGFA and diabetic retinopathy: LncRNA maternally expressed gene 3 (LncMEG3), which increases endoplasmic reticulum stress and inhibits cell proliferation (108), is considered to negatively correlate with VEGF, and in patients with diabetic retinopathy, while the serum levels of VEGF are upregulated, LncMEG3 are downregulated (109).