Degenerating retina

Ferrara N, Damico L, Shams N, et al (2006) Developmemt of Ranibizumab, an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor antigen binding fragment, as therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Retina 26 859-870... 

Moshfeghi, DM and Blumenkranz, MS, 2007. Role of genetic factors and inflammation in age-related macular degeneration. Retina 27, 269-275. 

Eyetech Study Group, Preclinical and phase 1A clinical evaluation of an anti-VEGF pegylated aptamer (EYE001) for the treatment of exudative age-related macular degeneration, Retina, 22 143-152, 2002... 

Rich RM, Rosenfeld PJ, PuUafito CA, et al. Short-term safety and efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) for noevascular age related macular degeneration. Retina 2006 26 495. 

Danis RP, Ciulla TA, Pratt LM, Anliker W. Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide in exudative age-related macular degeneration. Retina 2000 20(3) 244—250. 

Akduman L, Karavellas MP, MacDonald JC, Oik RJ, Freeman WR. Macular translocation with retinotomy and retinal rotation for exudative age-related macular degeneration. Retina 1999 19 418-423. 

Recoverin is aberrantly expressed in malignant tumors localized outside the nervous system. This was found to trigger the immune system resulting in the production of autoantibodies inducing the degeneration of the retina. 

Disorder characterized by atrophy ofthe choroid (the thin membrane covering most of the posterior of the eye between the retina and sclera) and degeneration of the retinal pigment epithelium resulting in night blindness. The disease is caused by mutations in Rab escort protein Repl (component A of Rab geranylgeranyl transferase). 

Similar to C1C-5, C1C-3 is present in endosomes. It is also found in synaptic vesicles. In both instances, and similar to C1C-5, it is necessary for the efficient intravesicular acidification. The acidification of synaptic vesicles is particularly important as their uptake of neurotransmitters depends on the electrochemical proton gradient. Surprisingly, the disruption of C1C-3 in mice resulted in a drastic degeneration of the hippocampus and the retina. Much less is known about C1C-4, which, however, also appears to be present in endosomal compartments. 

Dillon, J., L. Zheng et al. (2004). Transmission of light to the aging human retina possible implications for age related macular degeneration. Exp. Eye Res. 79(6) 753-759. 

The retina does not contain high concentrations of hydrocarbon carotenoids but Mares-Perlman et al. (1995) have shown a correlation between age-related macular degeneration and low levels of serum LYC and this apparent contradiction is discussed in Section 14.5. 

Chowers, I, Wong, R, Dentchev, T, Farkas, RH, Iacovelli, J, Gunatilaka, TL, Medeiros, NE, Presley, JB, Campochiaro, PA, Curcio, CA, Dunaief, JL, and Zack, DJ, 2006. The iron carrier transferrin is upregulated in retinas from patients with age-related macular degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 47, 2135-2140. 

Tosini, G. Menaker, M. (1998). The clock in the mouse retina melatonin synthesis and photoreceptor degeneration. Brain Res. 789, 221-8. 

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the main cause of irreversible blindness in the Western world and affects 20% of people older than 65 years (Krinsky and others 2003). The macula, or yellow spot, is part of the retina and is the area of maximum visual... 

Anderson, R. E., Maude, M. B., Alvarez, R. A, Acland, G. and Aguirre, G. D. A hypothesis to explain the reduced blood levels of docosahexaenoic acid in inherited retinal degenerations caused by mutations in genes encoding retina-specific proteins. Lipids 34, S235-S237,1999. 

Racemase deficiency. The biological role of 2-methyl-acyl-CoA racemase has only recently been clarified. This peroxisomal enzyme is essential for certain steps of the oxidation of phytol and bile acid derivatives, which are stereospecific. Biochemically there is accumulation of pristanic acid and C27 bile acid intermediates. Clinical symptoms may include adult-onset peripheral neuropathy, pigmentary degeneration of the retina and liver disease [ 13]. 

Shaban, H., and Richter, C. A2E and blue light in the retina the paradigm of age-related macular degeneration. Biol. Chem. 383 537-545, 2002. 

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