Journal des maladies et troubles oculaires

Abstrait

The Interplay between Retinopathy and Senescence, Origin of a Possible Treatment of Retinal Diseases: Review of the Literature

Anouar Abidi*

Retinopathy is a complex disease affecting the eye at different ages and whose etiological factors are multiple (diabetes, cardiovascular and nervous diseases, inflammation). The consequences of the latter are first of all difficulties in detecting light at the level of the eye and which can evolve until causing blindness. Recent studies have confirmed a direct relationship between retinopathy and senescence, these discoveries have opened up motivating perspectives to guide the lines of research in order to trace an effective treatment against this disease. The main supporting hypotheses aim to curb destructive angiogenesis in the retina first and foremost, while understanding the mechanisms involved and intervening appropriately to reverse them through the elimination of senescent cells and counteracting the inflammation triggered, one of the major characteristics of retinopathy.

Recent therapeutic trials for the evaluation of different possible treatments for retinopathy are based on experimental animal models.

Based on in vivo experimental studies (in mice or rats) reproducing retinopathy in humans, therapeutic trials testing various substances alone or in combination, and monitoring, in particular at the molecular and genetic level, the discoveries scientists could be to offer an effective cure for this disease affecting a large population across the world. Moreover, working in this context would be beneficial even for other diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, nervous diseases and all kinds of pathologies related to angiogenesis and senescence. Finally, achieving control of senescence is not only an objective of curing retinopathy, this physiological behavior is essential for all living beings, stopping aging is quite simply an extension of life at the cellular or the whole organism.