ABSTRACT
Angiogenesis is a key step involving physiological and pathological processes, and pro/antiangiogenic factors are involved in angiogenesis throughout. Melatonin is a product synthesized by the pineal gland of the human brain and acts in various systems of the body. This article briefly describes the wide range of biological roles and physiological functions of melatonin, and summarizes that melatonin regulates pro-/anti-angiogenic factors(e.g., vascular endothelial growth factor/matrix metalloproteinase)under different conditions and is involved in angiogenesis in fundus diseases(e.g., age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and central serous choroioretinopathy); in addition, it also summarizes that melatonin regulates various cytokines, inflammatory factors and signaling pathways to produce anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immune responses in fundus diseases, and thus obtaining the application and potential treatment of melatonin in fundus vascular diseases, with a view to providing new ideas and therapeutic targets for the treatment of fundus diseases.
ABSTRACT
Choroidal neovascularization(CNV)is the ultimate pathological manifestation of various ocular diseases. Its pathogenesis is extremely complex and involves multiple cells, cytokines, and signaling pathways. MicroRNA(miRNA), as a kind of small biological molecules, is a non-coding RNA composed of 22 nucleotides that regulates gene expression by degrading or inhibiting mRNA translation of target genes. Having been increasingly studied and their involvement in the development of various diseases through miRNA-mediated signaling pathways have been revealed. In the field of ophthalmology, miRNA target specific protein genes through various signaling pathways to promote or inhibit CNV. Therefore, revealing the role and mechanism of miRNA in the pathogenesis of CNV is an important direction of future research on the pathogenesis of CNV. This article aims to review on phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase- protein kinase B(PI3K-Akt), transforming growth factor-beta(TGF-β), nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB), Notch and Wnt signaling pathways in miRNA regulation of CNV, providing new insights into the pathogenesis of CNV and targeted therapy for CNV.