Emerging roles of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of pseudoexfoliation syndrome (Review)

Abstract

Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEXS) is a systemic disease caused by defects in the extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling process leading to the chronic deposition of extracellular, fibrillary, white flaky pseudoexfoliation material (PEXM) throughout the body. Specifically, PEXM deposits on the lens capsule cause open-angle glaucoma, cataracts and blindness in patients with PEXS. Several gene single nucleotide polymorphisms are linked to the development of PEXS in humans, including lysyl oxidase-like 1 gene, clusterin and fibulin-5. The exact reason for the PEXM generation and its resulting pathogenesis is not well understood. However, defective ECM remodelling and oxidative stress (OS) have been hypothesized as significant events leading to the PEXM. Specifically, the link between OS and PEXS has been well studied, although the investigation is still ongoing. The present review explored recent advances in various aspects of PEXS and the involvement of OS in the eye for PEXS development.