Identification of Retinal Pigment Epithelium-Specific Clones

Abstract

expressed in its cells, and their expression levels. However, it’s most commonly hypothesized that gene mutation in RPE cells could be responsible for AMD as well as other macular dystrophies. pathology and causes of AMD are still unknown, it is thought to have significant ties to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), a one-cell-thick layer located between the retinal and choroid tissues. This layer maintains the blood-retina barrier and is imperative to healthy maintenance of the retina. Currently there is relatively little known about the RPE, the genes Macular region of wet form AMD Macular region of a normal, Macular region of dry form AMD healthy human eye. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a frequentlyoccuring eye condition that affects over 30 percent of the United States population over 75 years of age. AMD consists of two types, geographic atrophy (dry), and choroidal neovascularization (wet), which is exceedingly worse and can lead to blindness. This disease has proven to be highly complex, and the overall causes and pathology are still unknown. Many risk factors are associated with AMD including smoking and hypertension; however, age is the most common risk factor. Although the specific this study is to identify which genes are expressed in the RPE and identify RPE-specific genes by comparing gene expression in cells of the RPE to gene expression in cells of various other human tissues. This first step in understanding gene expression and specificity in the RPE improves our understanding of its role in age-related macular degeneration.