Relationship between mitochondrial autophagy and pathogenesis of glaucoma

Abstract

Mitophagy plays a key role in the maintenance of a healthy and functional mitochondrial network in the cell by eliminating damaged mitochondria resulting in mitochondrial turnover. With complex dendritic arbors and long axons retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are highly energy demanding, it is not surprising that RGCs are particularly vulnerable to mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitophagy defect plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis and development of glaucoma. Of interest, mutations in OPTN gene and TBK1 gene may lead to mitophagy dysfunction, and is associated with primary open angle glaucoma and normal-tension glaucoma, respectively, as the result of RGCs apoptosis. Overexpression of parkin, a gene product of related to mitophagy, protects RGCs in animals with experimental glaucoma. Understanding of mitochondrial dysfunction and the role played by mitophagy in this process are of important scientific and clinical value, as it might provide novel approaches to the prevention and treatment of glaucoma. (Int Rev Ophthalmol, 2019, 43: 84-88) Key words: mitophagy; mitochondrial dysfunctions; retinal ganglion cell; glaucoma