The Role of Inflammation in the Pathogenesis of Age-related Macular Degeneration

• Published in: Survey of ophthalmology Vol. 51; no. 2; pp. 137 - 152
• Main Authors: Donoso, Larry A., Kim, David, Frost, Arcilee, Callahan, Alston, Hageman, Gregory
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.03.2006; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: age-related macular degeneration; atherosclerosis; Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research); Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; complement; drusen; Factor H gene; genetics; Glomerulonephritis; Humans; inflammation; Inflammation - complications; Inflammation - pathology; Macular Degeneration - etiology; Macular Degeneration - pathology; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; Nephropathies. Renovascular diseases. Renal failure; Ophthalmology; Retina - pathology; Retinitis - complications; Retinitis - pathology; Risk Factors; single nucleotide polymorphism; atherosclerosis; genetics; inflammation; single nucleotide polymorphism; drusen; Factor H gene; complement; glomerulonephritis; age-related macular degeneration; Kidney disease; Glomerulonephritis; Urinary system disease; Pathogenesis; Cardiovascular disease; Complement; Inflammation; Vascular disease; Macular degeneration; Drusen; Gene; Atherosclerosis; Nucleotide; Genetics; Ophthalmology; Polymorphism
• ISSN: 0039-6257; 1879-3304
• DOI: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2005.12.001

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in the elderly, is a complex disease to study because of the potential role of demographic, environmental, and other systemic risk factors, such as age, sex, race, light exposure, diet, smoking, and underlying cardiovascular disease which may contribute to the pathogenesis of this disease. Recently, single nucleotide polymorphisms, DNA sequence variations found within the complement Factor H gene, have been found to be strongly associated with the development of AMD in Caucasians. One single nucleotide polymorphism, Tyr402His, was associated with approximately 50% of AMD cases. We review recent developments in the molecular biology of AMD, including single nucleotide polymorphisms within the Factor H gene, which may predispose individuals to the susceptibility of AMD as well as single nucleotide polymorphisms that may confer a protective effect. Taken together these findings help to provide new insights into the central issues surrounding the pathogenesis of AMD.