title: Protective inflammasome activation in AMD.
abstract: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness in the elderly. AMD progression is associated with alterations in inflammatory pathways and the immune system. A new study identifies a protective role for inflammasomes in AMD, suggesting that inflammasome activation might be manipulated as a potential therapeutic strategy for this condition (pages 791-798).
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Lois E H
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000502:physiology*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; D015594:Optic Disk Drusen / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D020382:Interleukin-18; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; C492716:Nlrp3 protein, mouse