Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of irreversible visual impairment among people over 50 years of age, accounting for up to 50% of all cases of legal blindness in Western countries. Although the aging represents the main determinant of AMD, it must be considered a multifaceted disease caused by interactions among environmental risk factors and genetic backgrounds. Mounting evidences and/or arguments document the crucial role of inflammation and immune-mediated processes in the pathogenesis of AMD. Pro-inflammatory effects secondary to chronic inflammation (e.g. alternative complement activation) and heterogeneous types of oxidative stress (e.g. impaired cholesterol homeostasis) can result in degenerative damages at the level of crucial macular structures, i.e. photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium, and Bruch’s membrane. In the most recent years, the association of AMD with genes, directly or indirectly, involved in immuno-inflammatory pathways is increasingly becoming an essential core for AMD knowledge. Starting from the key basic-research notions detectable at the root of AMD pathogenesis, the present up-to-date article reviews the best-known and/or the most attractive genetic findings linked to the mechanisms of inflammation of this complex disease.

Mechanism of inflammation in age-related macular degeneration: an up-to-date on genetic landmarks

PARMEGGIANI, Francesco;SORRENTINO, Francesco Saverio;INCORVAIA, Carlo;D'ANGELO, Sergio;PERRI, Paolo;DE NADAI, Katia;BONOMO ROVERSI, ELIA;FRANCESCHELLI, Paola;SEBASTIANI, Adolfo;RUBINI, Michele
2013

Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of irreversible visual impairment among people over 50 years of age, accounting for up to 50% of all cases of legal blindness in Western countries. Although the aging represents the main determinant of AMD, it must be considered a multifaceted disease caused by interactions among environmental risk factors and genetic backgrounds. Mounting evidences and/or arguments document the crucial role of inflammation and immune-mediated processes in the pathogenesis of AMD. Pro-inflammatory effects secondary to chronic inflammation (e.g. alternative complement activation) and heterogeneous types of oxidative stress (e.g. impaired cholesterol homeostasis) can result in degenerative damages at the level of crucial macular structures, i.e. photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium, and Bruch’s membrane. In the most recent years, the association of AMD with genes, directly or indirectly, involved in immuno-inflammatory pathways is increasingly becoming an essential core for AMD knowledge. Starting from the key basic-research notions detectable at the root of AMD pathogenesis, the present up-to-date article reviews the best-known and/or the most attractive genetic findings linked to the mechanisms of inflammation of this complex disease.
2013
Parmeggiani, Francesco; Sorrentino, Francesco Saverio; Romano, Mr; Costagliola, C; Semeraro, F; Incorvaia, Carlo; D'Angelo, Sergio; Perri, Paolo; DE NADAI, Katia; BONOMO ROVERSI, Elia; Franceschelli, Paola; Sebastiani, Adolfo; Rubini, Michele
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11392/1870917
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