Cellular Responses of Antioxidants Related to Degenerative Eye Disease Research

Abstract

Oxidative stress is critical in degenerative retinal diseases. Antioxidants are considered to be potential therapeutics that can treat retinal diseases. Loss of retinal epithelium (RPE) is an important contributor to the degeneration of the retina. Dry AMD induces straight RPE cell degeneration, whereas the wet form causes neovascularization following RPE cell loss. Glaucoma induces progressive retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axon degeneration, resulting in RGC death and visual deficits. RPE cells are also important regulators in eye growth and thus are also susceptible to participating in retinal detachment in myopia. In diabetic retinopathy, the RPE barrier breaks, leading to vascular leakage. The retina is a thin layer in the posterior part of the eye that collects visual information and transfers it to the brain via the optic nerve. Retina consists of RPE cells, photoreceptor rods and cones, glial cells, and neuronal cells, including RGCs. RPE cells support homeostasis by performing a heterocycle of outer photoreceptor segments, enabling nutritional transport from the choroid and removing waste material into the choroid, for example. RPE degeneration leads to vision loss, and antioxidants could protect these cells against oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation, all important contributors to retinal degeneration. This Special Issue is a collection of studies related to cellular responses to oxidative stress and antioxidants in pre-clinical degenerative retinal eye disease research. It includes articles about different aspects of oxidative stress and antioxidants in degenerative retinal diseases.