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Updated: May 29, 2026
10:22
Enrichment of Bruch's Membrane from Human Donor Eyes
Published on: November 15, 2015
The oil spill in ageing Bruch membrane
Christine A Curcio1, Mark Johnson, Martin Rudolf
1Department of Ophthalmology, EyeSight Foundation of Alabama Vision Science Laboratories Room 360, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294-0019, USA. curcio@uab.edu
The British Journal of Ophthalmology
|September 6, 2011
Summary
Ageing causes lipid deposits in the eye, forming lesions linked to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Research suggests retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) secretes lipoproteins, contributing to AMD progression and potential neovascularization.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Ageing is the primary risk factor for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
- Soft drusen and basal linear deposits are characteristic lipid-rich lesions in AMD.
- Neutral lipid deposition in Bruch's membrane (BrM) is an age-related phenomenon and a key component of drusen.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize evidence supporting the accumulation of lipoproteins in BrM and their production by the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE).
- To propose a biochemical model for neutral lipid deposition and lesion formation in AMD.
- To update the model with genetic associations and suggest future research and therapeutic directions.
Main Methods:
- Biochemical analysis
- Histochemical staining (Oil red O)
- Ultrastructural examination
- Epidemiological data interpretation
Main Results:
- The RPE secretes apolipoprotein B (apoB)-lipoprotein particles into BrM.
- These lipoproteins accumulate with age, forming a lipid wall, a precursor to basal linear deposits.
- Peroxidation of lesion constituents may lead to pro-inflammatory lipids, potentially causing neovascularization.
Conclusions:
- Lipoprotein accumulation in BrM, originating from RPE, is central to AMD lesion formation.
- The proposed model integrates lipid deposition, oxidative stress, and inflammation in AMD pathogenesis.
- Genetic links to HDL metabolism and an 'oil-spill' analogy offer avenues for therapeutic strategies.
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