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Review
. 2021 May 18;14(5):766-773.
doi: 10.18240/ijo.2021.05.19. eCollection 2021.

Lipid accumulation and protein modifications of Bruch's membrane in age-related macular degeneration

Li-Hui Meng  1   2 , You-Xin Chen  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Lipid accumulation and protein modifications of Bruch's membrane in age-related macular degeneration

Li-Hui Meng et al. Int J Ophthalmol. .

Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive retinal disease, which is the leading cause of blindness in western countries. There is an urgency to establish new therapeutic strategies that could prevent or delay the progression of AMD more efficiently. Until now, the pathogenesis of AMD has remained unclear, limiting the development of the novel therapy. Bruch's membrane (BM) goes through remarkable changes in AMD, playing a significant role during the disease course. The main aim of this review is to present the crucial processes that occur at the level of BM, with special consideration of the lipid accumulation and protein modifications. Besides, some therapies targeted at these molecules and the construction of BM in tissue engineering of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells transplantation were listed. Hopefully, this review may provide a reference for researchers engaged in pathogenesis or management on AMD.

Keywords: Bruch's membrane; lipid accumulation; protein modifications; therapy.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Age-related changes of retina by hematoxylin and eosin staining under the fluorescent microscope
It suggested a gradual decrease of the melanin content (black nonfluorescent granules) and an obvious increase of the lipofuscin content (yellow fluorescence dots) with aging. RPE (solid arrows) and BM (dotted arrows) could be appreciated. BM: Bruch's membrane; RPE: Retinal pigment epithelium.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Imaging of AMD with large drusen
A: Color fundus photography showed large drusen; B: SD-OCT B-scan at location of green line (A) showed hypperreflective foci (green arrow heads) and absence of RPE. RPE: Retinal pigment epithelium; SD-OCT: Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.
Figure 3
Figure 3. BM and characteristic lesions of AMD
A: Five layers of BM in a normal eye: RPE-BL, ICL, EL, OCL and finally, CHC-BL; B: AMD eyes might have drusen, BlinD, fragmentation of EL, dysregulation or cross-linking of collagen fibrils, and thickness increasing in BM. L: Lipofuscin; BM: Bruch's membrane; ICL: Inner collagenous layer; RPE-BL: Basement membrane of the retinal pigment epithelium; EL: Elastin layer; OCL: Outer collagenous layer; CHC-BL: Basement membrane of the choriocapillaris; BlinD: Basal linear deposits.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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