Progress of autophagy in the pathogenesis of dry age-related macular degeneration

Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration(ARMD)is a major clinical blind-inducing eye disease, and its pathogenesis is closely related to the autophagy of RPE cells and the signaling pathway of nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2(Nrf2). Autophagy is one of the common and important physiological phenomena in human body, which is of vital significance for maintaining the stability and metabolism of cells. Nrf2 is a key transcription factor regulating cells to fight against foreign bodies and oxidative damage, and Nrf2 signaling pathway plays a wide range of cell protective functions in anti-tumor, anti-stress and other aspects. With the development of research, it is found that there are extensive interaction mechanisms between autophagy and Nrf2 signaling pathway. Inhibition of autophagy leads to accumulation of p62, which activates the Nrf2 signaling pathway by binding with Keap1(kelch-like ech-associated protein1). At the same time, studies have also found that reactive oxygen species(ROS)and other factors also participate in the mutual regulation between autophagy and Nrf2.This paper will review the recent research progress on the interaction between Nrf2 signaling pathway and autophagy in the development of ARMD. Hope to provide a new perspective for the treatment of ARMD.

Keywords

• autophagy
• nrf2
• p62
• reactive oxygen species