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Complement Mediators in Development to Treat Age-Related Macular Degeneration

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Abstract

Over recent years, great attention has been paid to the role of the complement system in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In particular, several studies have highlighted a link between AMD development and complement dysregulation, which can probably be explained as a complement cascade hyperactivation resulting from the presence of a series of risk factors such as aging; smoking; obesity; alcohol consumption; exposure to pesticides, industrial chemicals, or pollution; and other causes of oxidative stress. This hypothesis has been mainly supported by the presence of complement mediators as constituents of drusen, representing one of the earliest and most characteristic signs of retinal damage in AMD. Additionally, activated complement mediators and some complement regulators, such as vitronectin, have been found not only in the drusen and adjacent retinal areas but also in the peripheral blood of patients with AMD. Therefore, we aim to provide a review of recently studied complement factors to highlight their role in the pathogenesis of AMD and to evaluate new potential therapeutic strategies.

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Author notes

  1. Marcella Nebbioso and Federica Franzone have contributed equally to the writing of the manuscript.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, piazz.le A. Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy

    Marcella Nebbioso, Federica Franzone, Alessandro Lambiase, Marco Artico, Magda Gharbiya & Antonio Greco

  2. IRCCS, Fondazione Bietti, Via Livenza 3, 00198, Rome, Italy

    Samanta Taurone

  3. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome 5, 00185, Rome, Italy

    Antonella Polimeni

  4. Department of Sense Organs, Ocular Electrophysiology Centre, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy

    Marcella Nebbioso & Federica Franzone

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  1. Marcella Nebbioso
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MN and FF performed the research and wrote the paper; MA, ST, and MG contributed to the revision of the manuscript; AL, AG, and AP contributed to the concept and design for important intellectual content.

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Nebbioso, M., Franzone, F., Lambiase, A. et al. Complement Mediators in Development to Treat Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Drugs Aging 39, 107–118 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40266-021-00914-x

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