title: The Rate of Vitamin A Dimerization in Lipofuscinogenesis, Fundus Autofluorescence, Retinal Senescence and Degeneration.
abstract: One of the earliest events preceding several forms of retinal degeneration is the formation and accumulation of vitamin A dimers in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and underlying Bruch's membrane (BM). Such degenerations include Stargardt disease, Best disease, forms of retinitis pigmentosa, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Since their discovery in the 1990's, dimers of vitamin A, have been postulated as chemical triggers driving retinal senescence and degeneration. There is evidence to suggest that the rate at which vitamin A dimerizes and the eye's response to the dimerization products may dictate the retina's lifespan. Here, we present outstanding questions, finding the answers to which may help to elucidate the role of vitamin A dimerization in retinal degeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Medical Center, 160 Fort Washington Ave, Eye Research, 10032, New York, NY, USA. iw2101@columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Ilyas
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Washington
authors.affiliation: Alkeus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 02210, Boston, MA, USA. leonide@alkeus.com.
authors.forename: Leonide
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Saad
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D016570:Bruch Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019281:Dimerization; D005453:Fluorescence; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D008062:Lipofuscin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008956:Models, Chemical; D015394:Molecular Structure; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008062:Lipofuscin; D014801:Vitamin A
keywords: A2E; ABCA4; AMD; Age-related macular degeneration; Bisretinoids; Fundus autofluorescence; Lipofuscin; RPE; Retinaldehyde; Stargardt; Visual cycle; Vitamin A; Vitamin A dimer