title: Immunology of age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness in aged individuals. Recent advances have highlighted the essential role of immune processes in the development, progression and treatment of AMD. In this Review we discuss recent discoveries related to the immunological aspects of AMD pathogenesis. We outline the diverse immune cell types, inflammatory activators and pathways that are involved. Finally, we discuss the future of inflammation-directed therapeutics to treat AMD in the growing aged population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, USA. jamba2@email.uky.edu
authors.forename: Jayakrishna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ambati
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.forename: Bradley D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Gelfand
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D001766:Blindness / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D017242:Complement Factor H / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D018448:Models, Immunological; D009154:Mutation / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D017242:Complement Factor H