The importance of mitochondria in age-related and inherited eye disorders.
Summary of "The importance of mitochondria in age-related and inherited eye disorders."
Mitochondria are critical for ocular function as they represent the major source of a cell's supply of energy and play an important role in cell differentiation and survival. Mitochondrial dysfunction can occur as a result of inherited mitochondrial mutations (e.g. Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy and chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia) or stochastic oxidative damage which leads to cumulative mitochondrial damage and is an important factor in age-related disorders (e.g. age-related macular degeneration, cataract and diabetic retinopathy). Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) instability is an important factor in mitochondrial impairment culminating in age-related changes and pathology, and in all regions of the eye mtDNA damage is increased as a consequence of aging and age-related disease. It is now apparent that the mitochondrial genome is a weak link in the defenses of ocular cells since it is susceptible to oxidative damage and it lacks some of the systems that protect the nuclear genome, such as nucleotide excision repair. Accumulation of mitochondrial mutations leads to cellular dysfunction and increased susceptibility to adverse events which contribute to the pathogenesis of numerous sporadic and chronic disorders in the eye.
Affiliation
Department of Molecular and Biomedical Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky., USA.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Ophthalmic research
ISSN: 1423-0259
Pages: 179-90
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20829642
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000316480
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Heredodegenerative Disorders, Nervous System
Inherited disorders characterized by progressive atrophy and dysfunction of anatomically or physiologically related neurologic systems.
Substance-related Disorders
Disorders related to substance abuse, the side effects of a medication, toxin exposure, and ALCOHOL-RELATED DISORDERS.
Blood Coagulation Disorders, Inherited
Hemorrhagic and thrombotic disorders that occur as a consequence of inherited abnormalities in blood coagulation.
Mitochondrial Diseases
Diseases caused by abnormal function of the MITOCHONDRIA. They may be caused by mutations, acquired or inherited, in mitochondrial DNA or in nuclear genes that code for mitochondrial components. They may also be the result of acquired mitochondria dysfunction due to adverse effects of drugs, infections, or other environmental causes.
Mitochondria, Muscle
Mitochondria of skeletal and smooth muscle. It does not include myocardial mitochondria for which MITOCHONDRIA, HEART is available.
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