Abstract
Retinal neurodegeneration is predominantly reported as the apoptosis or impaired function of the photoreceptors. Retinal degeneration is a major causative factor of irreversible vision loss leading to blindness. In recent years, retinal degenerative diseases have been investigated and many genes and genetic defects have been elucidated by many of the causative factors. An enormous amount of research has been performed to determine the pathogenesis of retinal degenerative conditions and to formulate the treatment modalities that are the critical requirements in this current scenario. Encouraging results have been obtained using gene therapy. We provide a narrative review of the various studies performed to date on the role of inflammation in human retinal degenerative diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, inherited retinal dystrophies, retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt macular dystrophy, and Leber congenital amaurosis. In addition, we have highlighted the pivotal role of various inflammatory mechanisms in the progress of retinal degeneration. This review also offers an assessment of various therapeutic approaches, including gene-therapies and stem-cell-based therapies, for degenerative retinal diseases.
Highlights
Vision is of critical importance to an individual’s growth and survival
Little is known about the role of non-genetic factors in retinal disorders, as these retinal problems may remain asymptomatic until their advanced stages
Further studies proved that Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) epithelium cells induce in celinterleukin (IL)-33 signaling and cellular recruitment of microglia and macrophages are controlled by Müller cells into the retina, leading to the destruction of photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) [19,85]
Summary
Vision is of critical importance to an individual’s growth and survival. Visual disability negatively impacts productivity, as it reduces independence and mobility [1,2]. The impairment of the integrity of the retina slowly progresses and disintegrates the lining of the retinal cells or causes the death of the specialized light-sensing retinal cells known as photoreceptors that provide visual input to the brain [13] This cycle worsens over time, resulting in visual deterioration and subsequently blindness or complete vision loss [14]. Areprovide activated, and the specialized retinal cells knownmicroglia/macrophage as photoreceptors that visual the activation of these cellscycle leadsworsens to the release of cytokines chemokines for the and proinput to the brain [13] This over time, resultingand in visual deterioration gressive apoptosis of the photoreceptors suffering subsequently blindness or complete vision loss [14].
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