The role and therapeutic potential of melatonin in age-related ocular diseases.
J Pineal Res
; 63(2)2017 Sep.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28658514
ABSTRACT
The eye is continuously exposed to solar UV radiation and pollutants, making it prone to oxidative attacks. In fact, oxidative damage is a major cause of age-related ocular diseases including cataract, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. As the nature of lens cells, trabecular meshwork cells, retinal ganglion cells, retinal pigment epithelial cells, and photoreceptors is postmitotic, autophagy plays a critical role in their cellular homeostasis. In age-related ocular diseases, this process is impaired, and thus, oxidative damage becomes irreversible. Other conditions such as low-grade chronic inflammation and angiogenesis also contribute to the development of retinal diseases (glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy). As melatonin is known to have remarkable qualities such as antioxidant/antinitridergic, mitochondrial protector, autophagy modulator, anti-inflammatory, and anti-angiogenic, it can represent a powerful tool to counteract all these diseases. The present review analyzes the role and therapeutic potential of melatonin in age-related ocular diseases, focusing on nitro-oxidative stress, autophagy, inflammation, and angiogenesis mechanisms.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Aging
/
Eye Diseases
/
Melatonin
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
J Pineal Res
Journal subject:
ENDOCRINOLOGIA
Year:
2017
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: