Immuno-modulatory Effect of IFN-gamma in AMD and its Role as a Possible Target for Therapy

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by retinal cell atrophy, and/or choroidal neovascularization in the macula and constitutes the most common cause of blindness among the elderly in industrialized countries. The management of AMD is constrained by our insufficient knowledge of its underlying mechanisms. Recent studies point towards an emerging involvement of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), a soluble cytokine associated with innate and adaptive immunity. IFN-γ promotes proinflammatory responses by activating proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, thereby recruiting immune cells such as macrophages and T cells. On the other hand, IFN-γ modulates inflammatory response by upregulating anti-inflammatory factors or inhibiting development of immune cells related to autoimmune response. The complex role of IFN-γ in AMD pathogenesis is intriguing and worth further investigation in terms of therapeutic development.