[Iron and regulatory proteins in the normal and pathological retina]

Iron is necessary for cell metabolism, but excess iron can be toxic Iron can generate oxygen free radicals through the Fenton reaction. Iron accumulation has been observed in the retina of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We have shown its accumulation in photoreceptor segments in two animal models of genetic retinal degeneration (RCS rats and Rd10 mice). In these rodents, hTf, injected intraperitoneally or expressed by genetic modification, delayed photoreceptor degeneration. Our studies highlight the therapeutic potential of Tf in degenerative processes such as retinitis pigmentosa and AMD.