Oxidative damage and protection of the RPE

Citation
Jy. Cai et al., Oxidative damage and protection of the RPE, PROG RET EY, 19(2), 2000, pp. 205-221
Citations number
138
Categorie Soggetti
da verificare
Journal title
PROGRESS IN RETINAL AND EYE RESEARCH
ISSN journal
13509462 → ACNP
Volume
19
Issue
2
Year of publication
2000
Pages
205 - 221
Database
ISI
SICI code
1350-9462(200003)19:2<205:ODAPOT>2.0.ZU;2-4
Abstract
This review provides a model for the role of oxidative stress in the etiolo gy of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Epidemiological studies of di et, environmental and behavioral risk factors suggest that oxidative stress is a contributing factor of AMD. Pathological studies indicate that damage to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is an early event in AMD. In vitro studies show that oxidant treated RPE cells undergo apoptosis, a possible mechanism by which RPE cells are lost during early phase of AMD. The main t arget of oxidative injury seems to be mitochondria, an organelle known to a ccumulate genomic damages in other postmitotic tissues during aging. The th iol antioxidant GSH and its amino acid precursors protect RPE cells from ox idant-induced apoptosis. Similar protection occurs with dietary enzyme indu cers which increase GSH synthesis. These results indicate that therapeutic or nutritional intervention to enhance the GSH antioxidant capacity of RPE may provide an effective way to prevent or treat AMD. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sci ence Ltd. All rights reserved.