Inflammation and Cell Death in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: An Immunopathological and Ultrastructural Model

Journal of Clinical Medicine

Christopher P. Ardeljan²  Daniel Ardeljan¹  Mones Abu-Asab²  Chi-Chao Chan² 

[1] Human Genetics Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, MD, USA; E-Mail:;Histology Core, Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute/National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1857, MD, USA; E-Mails:

关键词: age-related macular degeneration (AMD);    macrophage;    microglia;    inflammasome;    cytokine;    apoptosis;    autophagy;    necroptosis;    pyroptosis;   

DOI  :  10.3390/jcm3041542

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

The etiology of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) remains elusive despite the characterization of many factors contributing to the disease in its late-stage phenotypes. AMD features an immune system in flux, as shown by changes in macrophage polarization with age, expression of cytokines and complement, microglial accumulation with age, etc. These point to an allostatic overload, possibly due to a breakdown in self vs. non-self when endogenous compounds and structures acquire the appearance of non-self over time. The result is inflammation and inflammation-mediated cell death. While it is clear that these processes ultimately result in degeneration of retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptor, the prevalent type of cell death contributing to the various phenotypes is unknown. Both molecular studies as well as ultrastructural pathology suggest pyroptosis, and perhaps necroptosis, are the predominant mechanisms of cell death at play, with only minimal evidence for apoptosis. Herein, we attempt to reconcile those factors identified by experimental AMD models and integrate these data with pathology observed under the electron microscope—particularly observations of mitochondrial dysfunction, DNA leakage, autophagy, and cell death.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.