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Parthanatos as a Cell Death Pathway Underlying Retinal Disease
Scott H Greenwald1, Eric A Pierce2
1Ocular Genomics Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye & Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. scott_greenwald@meei.harvard.edu.
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|December 30, 2019
Summary
Parthanatos, a cell death pathway driven by high poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) activity, contributes to retinal diseases. Blocking this pathway offers a potential therapeutic strategy for preserving vision.
Area of Science:
- Cellular Biology
- Pathology
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Parthanatos is a programmed cell death pathway triggered by excessive poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) activity.
- This cell death mechanism is implicated in various diseases affecting multiple organs, including the retina.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the mechanisms driving parthanatos in retinal diseases.
- To explore the potential of targeting parthanatos as a therapeutic strategy for vision preservation.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on parthanatos and retinal diseases.
- Analysis of molecular mechanisms involved in parthanatos, including PAR accumulation, energy depletion, and AIF translocation.
Main Results:
- High PARP1 activity leads to toxic poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) accumulation.
- Parthanatos involves NAD+ and ATP depletion, apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) nuclear translocation, and impaired glycolysis.
- These events contribute to cell death in retinal diseases.
Conclusions:
- Understanding parthanatos mechanisms is crucial for developing treatments for retinal diseases.
- Pharmacological inhibition of parthanatos presents a promising therapeutic avenue for conditions involving this cell death pathway.
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