Neuroprotection for retinal detachment

Recent data have provided important clues about the molecular mechanisms underlying retinal neurodegenerative diseases, including retinal detachment (RD). Photoreceptor cell death causes various types of cell death such as apoptosis, necrosis, autophagy, and necroptosis. Apoptosis is the major type of photoreceptor death in RD and is the most defined type in experimental and clinical settings. Most cell death in vertebrates proceeds via the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. Mitochondria contain proapoptotic factors such as cytochrome c and AIF in their intermembrane space. Furthermore, mitochondrial membrane permeabilization (MMP) is a critical event during apoptosis, representing the point of no return of the lethal process. Modern medicine is developing an increasing number of treatments for neurodegenerative disease, but no neuroprotective treatment has yet been established for RD. This chapter briefly reviews the mechanisms of cell death and neuroprotection for RD.