[Oxidative stress at the retinal pigment epithelium - experimental implications for protection]

Oxidative stress at the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is involved in the pathophysiology of age-related macula degeneration (ARMD). Observations on a clinical or laboratory level have revealed that supplementation of antioxidative scavengers failed in many cases. A potential therapeutic target is the cellular signal transduction cascade initiated by oxidative stress which results, e. g., in altered expression of pro- and antiagiogenic factors as well as induction of apoptosis. This review summarises the current literature on cellular effects of free radicals and deduces potential therapeutic approaches to protect the RPE from oxidative damage.