Visualisering av amyloider och patogenes i skadad näthinna

Abstract

Deposition of amyloid beta (Aβ) in the extracellular environment are associated to some severe diseases, like Alzheimer’s disease and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Amyloids are characterized by insolubility, toxicity towards neuron and are there-for damaging to tissues. AMD is the primary cause of blindness and irreversible loss of central vision through manifestation of Aβ in the macula. In AMD, Aβ drives an inflammatory action that degenerates the retinal pigment epithelium and cause atrophy of photoreceptors.

Today ~150 million people live with AMD where many find difficulties performing everyday tasks due to loss of sharp vision.

Congo red is a gold standard for visualizing amyloids in vitro and the pathogenesis caused by amyloids can be analyzed by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry.

The purpose of this study was to show the presence of amyloids relating to cell death in pig retina, show the pathogenesis caused by amyloids by using immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry, and investigate whether there is correlation between amyloids and cell death.

The result showed that amyloids were present in the retina and caused cell death and gathering of aggresomes.

Amyloids and the caused pathology could be visualized in the outer layer of the retina.