title: Targeting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in ocular neovascularization.
abstract: Ocular neovascularization, a common pathological feature of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), proliferative and diabetic retinopathy (PDR) leads to fluid and blood leakage, scar formation and ultimately blindness. Elucidation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as a key mediator of angiogenesis led to clinically approved anti-VEGF agents. However, these drugs are associated with adverse side-effects, high costs and extensive clinical burden. The phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) pathway is an alternative therapeutic target in angiogenic diseases. The PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway orchestrates an array of normal cellular processes, including growth, survival and angiogenesis. Here, we review the potential of targeting the PI3K pathway, to treat ocular neovascularization.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland, temitope.sasore@ucdconnect.ie.
authors.forename: Temitope
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sasore
authors.forename: Alison L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Breandán N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases