Antioxidant Drug Therapy Approaches for Neuroprotection in Chronic Diseases of the Retina

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Andrew J. Payne¹  Simon Kaja¹  Yuliya Naumchuk¹  Nancy Kunjukunju¹ 

[1] Vision Research Center, Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri—Kansas City, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA; E-Mails:

关键词: reactive oxygen species;    oxidative stress;    neuroprotection;    age-related macular degeneration;    diabetic retinopathy;    glaucoma;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms15021865

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

The molecular pathways contributing to visual signal transduction in the retina generate a high energy demand that has functional and structural consequences such as vascularization and high metabolic rates contributing to oxidative stress. Multiple signaling cascades are involved to actively regulate the redox state of the retina. Age-related processes increase the oxidative load, resulting in chronically elevated levels of oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species, which in the retina ultimately result in pathologies such as glaucoma or age-related macular degeneration, as well as the neuropathic complications of diabetes in the eye. Specifically, oxidative stress results in deleterious changes to the retina through dysregulation of its intracellular physiology, ultimately leading to neurodegenerative and potentially also vascular dysfunction. Herein we will review the evidence for oxidative stress-induced contributions to each of the three major ocular pathologies, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. The premise for neuroprotective strategies for these ocular disorders will be discussed in the context of recent clinical and preclinical research pursuing novel therapy development approaches.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland