Rho-kinase inhibitors – a new broad-spectrum treatment in ophthalmic diseases. A review

Abstract

Rho-kinases, also called coiled-coil containing protein kinases, are proteins that belong to the guanine triphosphate-ase family. Rho-kinase (ROCK) inhibition represents a relatively new therapeutic target for many diseases as cardiovascular diseases, neuronal degeneration, asthma, cancer. Due to their involvement in multiple biological processes, these compounds are increasingly addressed in the last ten years for clinical trials related to ophthalmic pathologies like glaucoma, endothelial dysfunction and vitreoretinal diseases. ROCK inhibition pathway seems to play important roles in: promoting endothelial cell proliferation and wound healing, regulation of trabecular meshwork outflow, limiting diabetes-induced microvascular damage, inhibiting the development of neovascular choroidal membranes in wet age related macular degeneration. This review of literature explores the mechanisms of action and effects of ROCK inhibitors in a variety of ocular pathologies as corneal pathologies, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, age related macular degeneration; also listing clinical trials (completed or ongoing) on ROCK inhibitors administered in patients with those particular disease.