The role and therapeutic potential of melatonin in age-related ocular diseases
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2017
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Wiley
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Crooke Álvarez, A., Huete Toral, F., Colligris, B. et al. «The Role and Therapeutic Potential of Melatonin in Age‐related Ocular Diseases». Journal of Pineal Research, vol. 63, n.o 2, septiembre de 2017, p. e12430. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1111/jpi.12430.
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. Since the nature of lens cells, trabecular meshwork cells, retinal ganglion cells, retinal pigment epithelial cells and photoreceptors is post-mitotic, autophagy plays a critical role in their cellular homeostasis. In age-related ocular diseases, this process is impaired, 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.