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The role and therapeutic potential of melatonin in age‐related ocular diseases
Author(s) -
Crooke Almudena,
HueteToral Fernando,
Colligris Basilio,
Pintor Jesús
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of pineal research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1600-079X
pISSN - 0742-3098
DOI - 10.1111/jpi.12430
Subject(s) - melatonin , macular degeneration , diabetic retinopathy , oxidative stress , autophagy , inflammation , medicine , glaucoma , angiogenesis , retinal , trabecular meshwork , retina , biology , immunology , ophthalmology , endocrinology , diabetes mellitus , neuroscience , apoptosis , biochemistry
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.