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.