The role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration.

ABSTRACT: 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 pre

SUBMITTER: Donoso LA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4853913 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Mar-Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature