Abstract

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss among the elderly in developed countries, affecting nearly 200 million worldwide. Unfortunately, about 80% of AMD patients with early and intermediate stages, known as “dry” AMD, currently lack effective treatment options due to a limited understanding of the disease. Genetic and histological studies point to Bruch’s membrane (BrM) as a key player in AMD initiation. Lipoproteins, particularly high-density lipoproteins (HDL), accumulate in BrM before AMD onset, leading to the formation of drusen, a hallmark of the disease. High HDL levels, known to correlate with AMD, are considered protective for cardiovascular health and are targeted in pharmaceutical interventions for the aging population. Thus, it is essential that we understand the role of HDL aggregation AMD pathogenesis. In this proposal we seek to investigate the role of HDL in AMD pathogenesis. Specifically, we intend to characterize the lipoproteins present in AMD BrM and test a novel hypothesis that increased local production of HDL drives the pathobiology of AMD.