Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world. The risk of AMD increases with age and is most common among the white population. Here, we discuss the convergence of factors related to race, pigmentation, and susceptibility to AMD, where the primary defect occurs in retinal support cells, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). We explore whether the observed racial bias in AMD incidence is related to innate differences in the basal level of pigmentation between races, and whether the pigmentation pathway activity in the RPE might protect from retinal degeneration. More specifically, we explore whether the downstream signaling activity of GPR143, a G-protein coupled receptor in the pigmentation pathway, might underly the racial bias of AMD and be a target to prevent the disease. Lastly, we summarize the past findings of a large retrospective study that investigated the relationship between the stimulation of GPR143 with L-DOPA, the pigmentation pathway, and AMD, to potentially help develop new ways to prevent or treat AMD. The reader of this review will come to understand the racial bias of AMD, which is related to the function of the RPE.
Highlights
The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is derived from the outer layer of the optic cup and consists of an epithelial monolayer located between the photoreceptor layer of the neural retina and the vascular bed of the choroid [1]
We found that GPR143 signaling increases the secretion of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) [21,25], reduces the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) [25], and immediately reduces the apical release of exosomes [26]
Albinism is a group of rare genetic disorders typically associated with a defect in melanin accumulation
Summary
The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is derived from the outer layer of the optic cup and consists of an epithelial monolayer located between the photoreceptor layer of the neural retina and the vascular bed of the choroid [1]. Others have suggested that different RPE regions have similar melanin content, but that choroidal melanin is greater in the macula and significantly greater in blacks than in whites [5]. These discrepancies may relate to the different methods used to quantify melanin. One of of the the many many prominent prominent features features of of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is the production and accumulation of melanin granules. The associated retinal support, causes blinding diseases because the photoreceptors are dependent while cellswhile do not participate in sensing light, they are vitallight, to thethey development on thethe. Development and maintenance of vision [1,12,13]
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