Abstract: Chronic oxidative stress is involved in development of many retinal degenerative-related diseases. Oxidative stress could induce the damages of proteins, lipids, DNA and organelles in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE), and cause RPE cellular dysfunction. So far, the molecular mechanism and regulatory process of oxidative stress in RPE still remain unclear. Recent studies found that some of molecular chaperones, transcription factors and microRNAs play a critical role in protection against oxidative stress in RPE, which may provide new therapeutic strategies for retinal degenerative-related diseases.

Key words: retinal pigment epithelial cell, oxidative stress, age-related macular degeneration