Effects of Calcium Ion, Calpains, and Calcium Channel Blockers on Retinitis Pigmentosa

Recent advances in molecular genetic studies have revealed many of the causative genes of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). These achievements have provided clues to the mechanisms of photoreceptor degeneration in RP. Apoptosis is known to be a final common pathway in RP and, therefore, a possible therapeu...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Mitsuru Nakazawa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2011-01-01
Series:Journal of Ophthalmology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/292040
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832554896742678528
author Mitsuru Nakazawa
author_facet Mitsuru Nakazawa
author_sort Mitsuru Nakazawa
collection DOAJ
description Recent advances in molecular genetic studies have revealed many of the causative genes of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). These achievements have provided clues to the mechanisms of photoreceptor degeneration in RP. Apoptosis is known to be a final common pathway in RP and, therefore, a possible therapeutic target for photoreceptor rescue. However, apoptosis is not a single molecular cascade, but consists of many different reactions such as caspase-dependent and caspase-independent pathways commonly leading to DNA fractionation and cell death. The intracellular concentration of calcium ions is also known to increase in apoptosis. These findings suggest that calpains, one of the calcium-dependent proteinases, play some roles in the process of photoreceptor apoptosis and that calcium channel antagonists may potentially inhibit photoreceptor apoptosis. Herein, the effects of calpains and calcium channel antagonists on photoreceptor degeneration are reviewed.
format Article
id doaj-art-30bfeb58b30749c3b58871a2efcc4173
institution Kabale University
issn 2090-004X
2090-0058
language English
publishDate 2011-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Journal of Ophthalmology
spelling doaj-art-30bfeb58b30749c3b58871a2efcc41732025-02-03T05:50:07ZengWileyJournal of Ophthalmology2090-004X2090-00582011-01-01201110.1155/2011/292040292040Effects of Calcium Ion, Calpains, and Calcium Channel Blockers on Retinitis PigmentosaMitsuru Nakazawa0Department of Ophthalmology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki 036-8561, JapanRecent advances in molecular genetic studies have revealed many of the causative genes of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). These achievements have provided clues to the mechanisms of photoreceptor degeneration in RP. Apoptosis is known to be a final common pathway in RP and, therefore, a possible therapeutic target for photoreceptor rescue. However, apoptosis is not a single molecular cascade, but consists of many different reactions such as caspase-dependent and caspase-independent pathways commonly leading to DNA fractionation and cell death. The intracellular concentration of calcium ions is also known to increase in apoptosis. These findings suggest that calpains, one of the calcium-dependent proteinases, play some roles in the process of photoreceptor apoptosis and that calcium channel antagonists may potentially inhibit photoreceptor apoptosis. Herein, the effects of calpains and calcium channel antagonists on photoreceptor degeneration are reviewed.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/292040
spellingShingle Mitsuru Nakazawa
Effects of Calcium Ion, Calpains, and Calcium Channel Blockers on Retinitis Pigmentosa
Journal of Ophthalmology
title Effects of Calcium Ion, Calpains, and Calcium Channel Blockers on Retinitis Pigmentosa
title_full Effects of Calcium Ion, Calpains, and Calcium Channel Blockers on Retinitis Pigmentosa
title_fullStr Effects of Calcium Ion, Calpains, and Calcium Channel Blockers on Retinitis Pigmentosa
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Calcium Ion, Calpains, and Calcium Channel Blockers on Retinitis Pigmentosa
title_short Effects of Calcium Ion, Calpains, and Calcium Channel Blockers on Retinitis Pigmentosa
title_sort effects of calcium ion calpains and calcium channel blockers on retinitis pigmentosa
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/292040
work_keys_str_mv AT mitsurunakazawa effectsofcalciumioncalpainsandcalciumchannelblockersonretinitispigmentosa