Biochemical and Genetic Analyses of Inflammatory Markers in AMD

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) results to blurred vision or vision loss in the central visual field in aged population caused due to damage of macula. The severity of disease is divided into early, intermediate and late type. Genetics, smoking, hypertension, atherosclerosis, obesity and sunlight exposure are risk factors for the disease. A number of theories have been put forward for the pathogenesis of AMD including oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammatory processes but its pathogenesis is still not well understood. Undefined aetiology and limited number of therapeutic measures available for AMD have motivated the need of vigorous research to identify the role of risk factors in the pathology of AMD. The present study shows that inflammatory markers viz., ApoE, HTRA1, leptin, IL-6, IL-8, VEGF, CRP and CFH are the factors involved in AMD pathogenesis. It is suggested that AMD is in fact an inflammatory pathology that involves a number of processes leading to inflammation and angiogenesis. A significant association of IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF gene polymorphism with AMD is observed.