THE ROLE OF THE GLUTATHIONE SYSTEM IN MAINTAINING REDOX-HOMEOSTASIS AND ANTIOXIDANT PROTECTION IN INFLAMMATORY AND DEGENERATIVE DISEASES OF THE ORGAN OF VISION

Objective. To review and analyze literature data as well as evaluate the role of the glutathione antioxidant system in inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the organ of vision. Material and Methods. Multiple sources of foreign and domestic literature concerning the problem of oxidative stress, antioxidant protection system, glutathione and their role in inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the organ of vision were analyzed using main scientific and medical databases. More than 120 sources in the medical literature over the past 15 years were evaluated, 50 of them have been selected for final summary. Results. It was found that oxidative stress, based on free radical oxidation reactions, including LPO processes, plays a leading role in the development of inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the organ of vision. The key link in the eye's antioxidant protection system is the glutathione system, which includes glutathione itself (GSH) and glutathionedependent enzymes: glutathione peroxidase (GPO), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-S-transferase (GST). Inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the eye are accompanied by reduction of the intracellular glutathione pool and imbalance between its reduced and oxidized forms (GSH / GSSG). Conclusions. Oxidative stress has a high correlation with inflammation and is the most important pathogenetic mechanism in inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the eye. The key role in antioxidant protection and maintenance of redox homeostasis of eye tissues belongs to the glutathione system, which includes GSH itself and glutathione-dependent enzymes (GPO, GR, GST). Inflammatory and degenerative processes in the eye are accompanied by decrease of the intracellular glutathione pool (GSH) and imbalance between its reduced and oxidized forms (GSH / GSSG). A shift in this balance significantly affects normal cell functioning, up to its apoptosis, and triggers multiple pathological conditions within the body, including diseases of the organ of vision.