Redox mechanisms in pathological angiogenesis in the retina: Roles for NADPH oxidase

Abstract

Pathological angiogenesis in the retina is a leading cause of serious vision loss in potentially blinding eye diseases, including proliferative diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity and the wet form of age- related macular degeneration. Hypoxia is thought to be the driver of pathological angiogenesis, and transcription factors such as hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are key mediators in these processes. Current treatments employ either laser photocoagulation or intravitreal injection of therapeutic antibodies for VEGF, in order to arrest the growth of leaky blood vessels in the avascular vitreous cavity and to restore visual acuity. How..