Lipofuscin, its origin, properties, and contribution to retinal fluorescence as a potential biomarker of oxidative damage to the retina

Rózanowska, Malgorzata B. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2913-8954 2023. Lipofuscin, its origin, properties, and contribution to retinal fluorescence as a potential biomarker of oxidative damage to the retina. Antioxidants 12 (12) , 2111. 10.3390/antiox12122111

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Abstract

Lipofuscin accumulates with age as intracellular fluorescent granules originating from incomplete lysosomal digestion of phagocytosed and autophagocytosed material. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on the current understanding of the role of oxidative stress and/or lysosomal dysfunction in lipofuscin accumulation and its consequences, particularly for retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Next, the fluorescence of lipofuscin, spectral changes induced by oxidation, and its contribution to retinal fluorescence are discussed. This is followed by reviewing recent developments in fluorescence imaging of the retina and the current evidence on the prognostic value of retinal fluorescence for the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the major blinding disease affecting elderly people in developed countries. The evidence of lipofuscin oxidation in vivo and the evidence of increased oxidative damage in AMD retina ex vivo lead to the conclusion that imaging of spectral characteristics of lipofuscin fluorescence may serve as a useful biomarker of oxidative damage, which can be helpful in assessing the efficacy of potential antioxidant therapies in retinal degenerations associated with accumulation of lipofuscin and increased oxidative stress. Finally, amendments to currently used fluorescence imaging instruments are suggested to be more sensitive and specific for imaging spectral characteristics of lipofuscin fluorescence.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Optometry and Vision Sciences Cardiff Institute Tissue Engineering Repair (CITER)
Publisher:	MDPI
ISSN:	2076-3921
Funders:	Cardiff University
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	14 December 2023
Date of Acceptance:	9 December 2023
Last Modified:	15 Dec 2023 16:00
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/164821

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