Proteomics Approaches Used to Investigate Age Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects a very large proportion of the elderly population, leading to progressive loss of vision. For the most frequent form of the disease, dry AMD, no effective therapies exist. This is a consequence of the fact that the mechanisms that lead to dry AMD are not understood. Among the many strategies used to accomplish this unmet need, valuable insights were provided by proteomics studies of biological fluids and of the eye cells affected by the disease. We review here the proteomics methods used by these studies, compare their advantages and limitations, and present the biologically relevant information produced by each method. We emphasize that proteomics methods continue to have high potential for this research area and are expected to lead to substantial progress towards understanding and curing AMD.