Lengyel Imre, Flinn Jane M, Peto Tünde, Linkous David H, Cano Katherine, Bird Alan C, Lanzirotti Antonio, Frederickson Christopher J, van Kuijk Frederik J G M
Division of Pathology, Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, University College London, and Department of Research and Development, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London EC1V 9EL, UK.
Exp Eye Res. 2007 Apr;84(4):772-80. doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2006.12.015. Epub 2007 Jan 9.
One of the hallmarks of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in the elderly in Western societies, is the accumulation of sub-retinal pigment epithelial deposits (sub-RPE deposits), including drusen and basal laminar deposits, in Bruch's membrane (BM). The nature and the underlying mechanisms of this deposit formation are not fully understood. Because we know that zinc contributes to deposit formation in neurodegenerative diseases, we tested the hypothesis that zinc might be involved in deposit formation in AMD. Using zinc specific fluorescent probes and microprobe synchrotron X-ray fluorescence we showed that sub-RPE deposits in post-mortem human tissues contain unexpectedly high concentrations of zinc, including abundant bio-available (ionic and/or loosely protein bound) ions. Zinc accumulation was especially high in the maculae of eyes with AMD. Internal deposit structures are especially enriched in bio-available zinc. Based on the evidence provided here we suggest that zinc plays a role in sub-RPE deposit formation in the aging human eye and possibly also in the development and/or progression of AMD.
年龄相关性黄斑变性（AMD）是西方社会老年人失明的主要原因，其标志之一是视网膜色素上皮下沉积物（sub-RPE沉积物）在布鲁赫膜（BM）中积聚，包括玻璃膜疣和基底膜沉积物。这种沉积物形成的性质和潜在机制尚未完全了解。因为我们知道锌在神经退行性疾病的沉积物形成中起作用，所以我们检验了锌可能参与AMD沉积物形成的假设。使用锌特异性荧光探针和微探针同步加速器X射线荧光技术，我们发现死后人体组织中的sub-RPE沉积物含有意外高浓度的锌，包括大量生物可利用的（离子和/或松散蛋白质结合）离子。在患有AMD的眼睛黄斑中，锌的积累尤其高。内部沉积物结构特别富含生物可利用锌。基于此处提供的证据，我们认为锌在衰老人眼的sub-RPE沉积物形成中起作用，并且可能也在AMD的发生和/或进展中起作用。
