Mechanistical retinal drug targets and challenges

Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2018 Feb 15:126:177-184. doi: 10.1016/j.addr.2018.04.016. Epub 2018 Apr 23.

Abstract

The retina is constantly exposed to light that increases reactive oxygen species in retina. Oxidative stress, inflammation and neurodegeneration are the major contributors in the most common retinal diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy (DR). Emerging developments and research for novel therapy targets and drug delivery to the posterior segment offer a promising future for the treatment of retinal diseases including rare hereditary diseases. In this review we discuss about promising mechanistical retinal drug targets. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling and anti-VEGF treatments are excluded.

Keywords: Ageing; Autophagy; Inflammation; Oxidative stress; Phagocytosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / drug therapy
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Retinal Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Retinal Diseases / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism

Substances

  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • VEGFA protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A