Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrologic, Anesthesiologic and Geriatric Sciences, Policlinico Umberto I, Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, Sapienza University of Rome, piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy
Andrea Barbato
Department of Sense Organs, Ocular Electrophysiology Center, Policlinico Umberto I, Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, Sapienza University of Rome, piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy
Antonia Pascarella
Department of Biology and Biotechnology Charles Darwin, Sapienza University of Rome, piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy
Rossella Giannotti
Department of Sense Organs, Ocular Electrophysiology Center, Policlinico Umberto I, Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, Sapienza University of Rome, piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy
Martina Genzano
Department of Sense Organs, Ocular Electrophysiology Center, Policlinico Umberto I, Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, Sapienza University of Rome, piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy
Marcella Nebbioso
Department of Sense Organs, Ocular Electrophysiology Center, Policlinico Umberto I, Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, Sapienza University of Rome, piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy
It has been demonstrated that the balance between proteases and protease-inhibitors system plays a key role in maintaining cellular and tissue homeostasis. Indeed, its alteration has been involved in many ocular and systemic diseases. In particular, research has focused on keratoconus, corneal wounds and ulcers, keratitis, endophthalmitis, age-related macular degeneration, Sorsby fundus dystrophy, loss of nerve cells and photoreceptors during optic neuritis both in vivo and in vitro models. Protease-inhibitors have been extensively studied, rather than proteases, because they may represent a therapeutic approach for some ocular diseases. The protease-inhibitors mainly involved in the onset of the above-mentioned ocular pathologies are: α2-macroglobulin, α1-proteinase inhibitor (α1-PI), metalloproteinase inhibitor (TIMP), maspin, SERPINA3K, SERPINB13, secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI), and calpeptin. This review is focused on the several characteristics of dysregulation of this system and, particularly, on a possible role of proteases and protease-inhibitors in molecular remodeling that may lead to some ocular diseases. Recently, researchers have even hypothesized a possible therapeutic effect of the protease-inhibitors in the treatment of injured eye in animal models.
