The membrane attack complex in aging human choriocapillaris: relationship to macular degeneration and choroidal thinning.

ABSTRACT: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common disease that can result in severe visual impairment. Abnormal regulation of the complement system has been implicated in its pathogenesis, and CFH polymorphisms contribute substantially to risk. How these polymorphisms exert their effects is poorly understood. We performed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis on young, aged, and AMD choroids to determine the abundance of the membrane attack complex (MAC) and performed immunofluorescence studies on eyes from 117 donors to evaluate the MAC in aging, early AMD, and advanced AMD. Morphometric studies were performed on eyes with high- or low-risk CFH genotypes. ELISA confirmed that MAC increases significantly with aging and with AMD. MAC was localized to Bruch's membrane and the c

SUBMITTER: Mullins RF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4215023 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature