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Inflammation and Retinal Disease: Complement Biology and Pathology pp 63–74Cite as

Bisretinoids of RPE Lipofuscin: Trigger for Complement Activation in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

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Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 703))

Abstract

Genetic association studies and investigations of the constituents of subretinal deposits (drusen) have implicated complement dysregulation as one factor predisposing individuals to increased risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Here we review evidence that molecular fragments released by photooxidation of the bisretinoids of retinal pigment epithelial lipofuscin, can activate complement. Complement activation by this mechanism is dependent on the alternative pathway. The diretinal conjugates comprising RPE lipofuscin accumulate in the cells throughout the lifetime of an individual. As such, these photooxidative processes, in a setting of complement dysregulation could contribute to chronic inflammation underlying AMD pathogenesis.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health Grants EY 12951, the Kaplen Foundation and by a grant from Research to Prevent Blindness to the Department of Ophthalmology.

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  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

    Janet R. Sparrow

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  1. Janet R. Sparrow
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Correspondence to Janet R. Sparrow .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department Of Pathology Laboratory Of, Medicine, University Of Pennsylvania, Johnson Pavilion 410, Philadelphia, 19104, USA

    John D. Lambris

  2. , Department of Ophthalmology and Visual S, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, 62269-3745, USA

    Anthony P. Adamis

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Sparrow, J.R. (2010). Bisretinoids of RPE Lipofuscin: Trigger for Complement Activation in Age-Related Macular Degeneration. In: Lambris, J., Adamis, A. (eds) Inflammation and Retinal Disease: Complement Biology and Pathology. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 703. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5635-4_5

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