Nutrigenetic reprogramming of oxidative stress

Authors

Joseph Ryu
Huzeifa Gulamhusein, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Jin Kyun Oh
Joseph H. Chang
Jocelyn Chen
Stephen H. Tsang

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-30-2022

Abstract

Retinal disorders such as retinitis pigmentosa, age-related retinal degeneration, oxygen-induced retinopathy, and ischemia-reperfusion injury cause debilitating and irreversible vision loss. While the exact mechanisms underlying these conditions remain unclear, there has been a growing body of evidence demonstrating the pathological contributions of oxidative stress across different cell types within the eye. Nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor (Nrf2), a transcriptional activator of antioxidative genes, and its regulator Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) have emerged as promising therapeutic targets. The purpose of this review is to understand the protective role of the Nrf2-Keap1 pathway in different retinal tissues and shed light on the complex mechanisms underlying these processes. In the photoreceptors, we highlight that Nrf2 preserves their survival and function by maintaining oxidation homeostasis. In the retinal pigment epithelium, Nrf2 similarly plays a critical role in oxidative stabilization but also maintains mitochondrial motility and autophagy-related lipid metabolic processes. In endothelial cells, Nrf2 seems to promote proper vascularization and revascularization through concurrent activation of antioxidative and angiogenic factors as well as inhibition of inflammatory cytokines. Finally, Nrf2 protects retinal ganglion cells against apoptotic cell death. Importantly, we show that Nrf2-mediated protection of the various retinal tissues corresponds to a preservation of functional vision. Altogether, this review underscores the potential of the Nrf2-Keap1 pathway as a powerful tool against retinal degeneration. Key insights into this elegant oxidative defense mechanism may ultimately pave the path toward a universal therapy for various inherited and environmental retinal disorders.

Comments

© 2021 Taiwan J Ophthalmol | Published by Wolters Kluwer - Medknow

Recommended Citation

Ryu J, Gulamhusein H, Oh JK, Chang JH, Chen J, Tsang SH. Nutrigenetic reprogramming of oxidative stress. Taiwan J Ophthalmol. 2021;11(3):207-215. Published 2021 Apr 30. doi:10.4103/tjo.tjo_4_21

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

Publication Title

Taiwan Journal of Ophthalmology

DOI

10.4103/tjo.tjo_4_21

Academic Level

faculty