Central Role of Oxidative Stress in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Evidence from a Review of the Molecular Mechanisms and Animal Models

Figure 1

Molecular mechanism in oxidative stress-induced retinal degeneration in mice. ROS levels increase in the retina following (1) exposure to the cigarette smoke prooxidant, hydroquinone (HQ), causing mitochondrial damage in the RPE, and (2) retinal illumination resulting in the photoactivation of rhodopsin. A chain of reactions results in the formation of the carboxyethylpyrrole (CEP) from the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a polyunsaturated fatty acid content (PFA) constituent in the retina. CEP is immunogenic, leading to an inflammatory response.