Cigarette smoking, oxidative stress, the anti-oxidant response through Nrf2 signaling, and Age-related Macular Degeneration

Vision Res. 2010 Mar 31;50(7):652-64. doi: 10.1016/j.visres.2009.08.018. Epub 2009 Aug 22.

Abstract

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness among the elderly. While excellent treatment has emerged for neovascular disease, treatment for early AMD is lacking due to an incomplete understanding of the early molecular events. Cigarette smoking is the strongest epidemiologic risk factor, yet we do not understand how smoking contributes to AMD. Smoking related oxidative damage during the early phases of AMD may play an important role. This review explores how cigarette smoking and oxidative stress to the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) might contribute to AMD, and how the transcription factor Nrf2 can activate a cytoprotective response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / physiology
  • Humans
  • Macular Degeneration / chemically induced*
  • Macular Degeneration / physiopathology
  • Mice
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / pharmacology
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects*
  • Oxidative Stress / physiology
  • Retinal Pigment Epithelium / cytology
  • Retinal Pigment Epithelium / drug effects*
  • Retinal Pigment Epithelium / pathology
  • Smoking / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2
  • NFE2L2 protein, human