Advanced Glycation End Product Mediated Cholesterol Deposition in Bruch's Membrane

Project Summary

When looking at AMD eyes under the microscope, the most distinguishing change is basal deposits, or accumulations of material within Bruch's membrane, a specialized scaffold upon which the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) attaches. Prior to basal deposit formation, cholesterol (fat) is deposited into Bruch's membrane. Dr. Handa believes that understanding how cholesterol gets deposited into Bruch's membrane will help researchers to design targeted new treatments that prevent the onset of AMD or slow the inevitable progression from early to late disease.