Is There Excess Oxidative Stress and Damage in Eyes of Patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa?

ABSTRACT: Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of diseases in which a mutation in one of the large variety of genes causes death of rod photoreceptors. After rods die, cone photoreceptors gradually die resulting in constriction of visual fields and eventual blindness in many patients. Studies in animal models of RP have demonstrated that oxidative damage is a major contributor to cone cell death. In this study, we extended those findings to patients with RP, because compared to control patients, those with RP showed significant reduction in the reduced to oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio in aqueous humor and a significant increase in aqueous protein carbonyl content. In contrast, there was no significant decrease in the serum GSH/GSSG ratio or increase in carbonyl content of serum proteins. The

SUBMITTER: Campochiaro PA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4554553 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature