Aberrant Lipid Metabolism and Complement Activation in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) stands as a leading cause of severe visual impairment and blindness among the elderly globally. As a multifactorial disease, AMD's pathogenesis is influenced by genetic, environmental, and age-related factors, with lipid metabolism abnormalities and complement system dysregulation playing critical roles. This review delves into recent advancements in understanding the intricate interaction between these two crucial pathways, highlighting their contribution to the disease's progression through chronic inflammation, drusen formation, and retinal pigment epithelium dysfunction. Importantly, emerging evidence points to dysregulated lipid profiles, particularly alterations in high-density lipoprotein levels, oxidized lipid deposits, and intracellular lipofuscin accumulation, as exacerbating factors that enhance complement activation and subsequently amplify tissue damage in AMD. Furthermore, genetic studies have revealed significant associations between AMD and specific genes involved in lipid transport and complement regulation, shedding light on disease susceptibility and underlying mechanisms. The review further explores the clinical implications of these findings, advocating for a novel therapeutic approach that integrates lipid metabolism modulators with complement inhibitors. By concurrently targeting these pathways, the dual-targeted approach holds promise in significantly improving outcomes for AMD patients, heralding a new horizon in AMD management and treatment.