Molecular mechanisms of retinal pigment epithelium damage and development of age-related macular degeneration.

Kati Kinnunen, Goran Petrovski, Morten C Moe, András Berta, Kai Kaarniranta

Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.

Acta ophthalmologica 2012 Jun

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Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is attributed to a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors. It is characterized by degeneration involving the retinal photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and Bruch's membrane, as well as alterations in choroidal capillaries. AMD pathogenesis is strongly associated with chronic oxidative stress and inflammation that ultimately lead to protein damage, aggregation and degeneration of RPE. Specific degenerative findings for AMD are accumulation of intracellular lysosomal lipofuscin and extracellular drusens. In this review, we discuss thoroughly RPE-derived mechanisms in AMD pathology. © 2011 The Authors. Acta Ophthalmologica © 2011 Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation.

Citation

Kati Kinnunen, Goran Petrovski, Morten C Moe, András Berta, Kai Kaarniranta. Molecular mechanisms of retinal pigment epithelium damage and development of age-related macular degeneration. Acta ophthalmologica. 2012 Jun;90(4):299-309