Melatonin in Retinal Physiology and Pathology: The Case of Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Joint Authors
Blasiak, Janusz
Kaarniranta, Kai
Reiter, Russel J.
Source
Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity
Issue
Vol. 2016, Issue 2016 (31 Dec. 2016), pp.1-12, 12 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2016-09-05
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
12
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
Melatonin, an indoleamine, is synthesized mainly in the pineal gland in a circadian fashion, but it is produced in many other organs, including the retina, which seems to be especially important as the eye is a primary recipient of circadian signals.
Melatonin displays strong antioxidative properties, which predispose it to play a protective role in many human pathologies associated with oxidative stress, including premature aging and degenerative disease.
Therefore, melatonin may play a role in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a disease affecting photoreceptors, and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) with an established role of oxidative stress in its pathogenesis.
Several studies have shown that melatonin could exert the protective effect against damage to RPE cells evoked by reactive oxygen species (ROS), but it has also been reported to increase ROS-induced damage to photoreceptors and RPE.
Melatonin behaves like synthetic mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, which concentrate in mitochondria at relatively high levels; thus, melatonin may prevent mitochondrial damage in AMD.
The retina contains telomerase, an enzyme implicated in maintaining the length of telomeres, and oxidative stress inhibits telomere synthesis, while melatonin overcomes this effect.
These features support considering melatonin as a preventive and therapeutic agent in the treatment of AMD.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Blasiak, Janusz& Reiter, Russel J.& Kaarniranta, Kai. 2016. Melatonin in Retinal Physiology and Pathology: The Case of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity،Vol. 2016, no. 2016, pp.1-12.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1114135
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Blasiak, Janusz…[et al.]. Melatonin in Retinal Physiology and Pathology: The Case of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity No. 2016 (2016), pp.1-12.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1114135
American Medical Association (AMA)
Blasiak, Janusz& Reiter, Russel J.& Kaarniranta, Kai. Melatonin in Retinal Physiology and Pathology: The Case of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity. 2016. Vol. 2016, no. 2016, pp.1-12.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1114135
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-1114135