title: Role of Chemokines in Shaping Macrophage Activity in AMD.
abstract: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a multifactorial disorder that affects millions of individuals worldwide. While the advent of anti-VEGF therapy has allowed for effective treatment of neovascular 'wet' AMD, no treatments are available to mitigate the more prevalent 'dry' forms of the disease. A role for inflammatory processes in the progression of AMD has emerged over a period of many years, particularly the characterisation of leukocyte infiltrates in AMD-affected eyes, as well as in animal models. This review focuses on the burgeoning understanding of chemokines in the retina, and their potential role in shaping the recruitment and activation of macrophages in AMD. Understanding the mechanisms which promote macrophage activity in the degenerating retina may be key to controlling the potentially devastating consequences of inflammation in diseases such as AMD.
authors.affiliation: John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Building 131, Garran Rd, 2601, Canberra, ACT, Australia. matt.rutar@anu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rutar
authors.affiliation: ANU Medical School, The Australian National University, 2601, Canberra, ACT, Australia. jan.provis@anu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Jan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Provis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018925:Chemokines / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000276:immunology*; D012160:Retina / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018925:Chemokines
keywords: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD); Chemokines; Inflammation; Macrophages; Microglia; Retinal degenerations