Francine Behar-Cohen
1 Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Cochin Ophtalmopole, 75014 Paris, France 2 Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, Inserm, From physiopathology of retinal diseases to clinical advances, 75006 Paris, France.
Corresponding Author:[email protected]
Author ProfileAbstract
In the retina, mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), expressed in vessels,
glial and neuronal cells, is mainly activated by glucocorticoids. Under
pathological conditions, ocular MR expression and corticoids change,
leading in most cases to MR overactivation. Experimental models using MR
agonists or antagonists, administered systemically or intraocularly,
acutely or chronically and transgenic models, allowed to identify the
deleterious consequences of MR pathway overactivation. Among them,
oxidative stress, inflammation, deregulation of hydro-ionic channels,
alteration of choroidal vasculature, angiogenesis and cell death, are
common to major retinal diseases. Specific MR antagonists showed
efficacy in models of diabetic retinopathy, ischaemia, retinal and
choroidal angiogenesis and in models of glaucoma. It is highly likely
that MR antagonists will find a place in the therapeutic arsenal of
age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and in
pachychoroid associated diseases. Their use in humans is still limited
by the need of biomarkers of MR activation and specific ocular
formulations.