Autophagy dysregulation and the fate of retinal ganglion cells in glaucomatous optic neuropathy.
Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease caused by the progressive apoptotic death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). The mechanisms leading to the RGC loss are still unknown but it is now clear that, besides elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), which is considered the main risk factor, other IOP-independent determinants are responsible for the development of the optic neuropathy. Autophagy is a highly conserved catabolic pathway by which cellular components are degraded through the lysosomes. Dysfunctional autophagic pathway has been associated with several neuropathological conditions and a considerable number of studies have proved autophagy as a potential target for pharmacological modulation to achieve neuroprotection. Here, we review the current literature bridging the degeneration of RGCs to alterations of the autophagic pathway; we also discuss the possible role of autophagy in the pathogenesis and progression of glaucoma in view of the future application of autophagy modulators for glaucoma therapy.
Department of Pharmacy and Health and Nutritional Sciences, Section of Preclinical and Translational Pharmacology, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy. Electronic address: rossella.russo@unical.it.
Rossella
R
Russo
Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
Carlo
C
Nucci
Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
Maria Tiziana
MT
Corasaniti
Department of Pharmacy and Health and Nutritional Sciences, Section of Preclinical and Translational Pharmacology, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy; University Consortium for Adaptive Disorders and Head Pain (UCHAD), Section of Neuropharmacology of Normal and Pathological Neuronal Plasticity, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy.
Giacinto
G
Bagetta
Department of Pharmacy and Health and Nutritional Sciences, Section of Preclinical and Translational Pharmacology, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy; University Consortium for Adaptive Disorders and Head Pain (UCHAD), Section of Neuropharmacology of Normal and Pathological Neuronal Plasticity, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy.
Luigi Antonio
LA
Morrone
D000818:Animals; D001343:Autophagy / Q000502:physiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D000066829:Neuroprotection / Q000502:physiology; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000473:pathology*
Autophagy; Glaucoma; Neurodegeneration; Neuroprotection