Our further studies will explore the known markers of retinal neuronal damage, including vascular permeability, leukocyte adhesion, acellular capillary formation, retinal inflammation, and oxidative stress in relation to the tissue damage induced by ACAT1/SOAT1 in models of diabetic retinopathy (i.e., Akita mice, STZ-induced diabetic mice, db/db mice). The gene discussed is ACAT1; the disease is diabetic retinopathy.