The role and therapeutic potential of melatonin in age-related ocular diseases

J Pineal Res. 2017 Sep;63(2). doi: 10.1111/jpi.12430. Epub 2017 Jul 18.

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.

Keywords: age-related macular degeneration; aged-related ocular diseases; aging; cataract; diabetic retinopathy; glaucoma; melatonin.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aging* / drug effects
  • Aging* / metabolism
  • Aging* / pathology
  • Autophagy / drug effects
  • Eye Diseases* / drug therapy
  • Eye Diseases* / metabolism
  • Eye Diseases* / pathology
  • Eye Diseases* / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Melatonin / therapeutic use*
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / drug effects
  • Nitrosative Stress / drug effects

Substances

  • Melatonin