| Autor: |
Pinelli R; Switzerland Eye Research Institute (SERI), 6900 Lugano, Switzerland., Ferrucci M; Human Anatomy, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy., Berti C; Switzerland Eye Research Institute (SERI), 6900 Lugano, Switzerland., Biagioni F; Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 86077 Pozzili, Italy., Scaffidi E; Switzerland Eye Research Institute (SERI), 6900 Lugano, Switzerland., Bumah VV; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry College of Sciences San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA.; Department of Chemistry and Physics, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA., Busceti CL; Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 86077 Pozzili, Italy., Lenzi P; Human Anatomy, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy., Lazzeri G; Human Anatomy, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy., Fornai F; Human Anatomy, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy.; Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 86077 Pozzili, Italy. |
| Abstrakt: |
The present article discusses the role of light in altering autophagy, both within the outer retina (retinal pigment epithelium, RPE, and the outer segment of photoreceptors) and the inner choroid (Bruch's membrane, BM, endothelial cells and the pericytes of choriocapillaris, CC). Here autophagy is needed to maintain the high metabolic requirements and to provide the specific physiological activity sub-serving the process of vision. Activation or inhibition of autophagy within RPE strongly depends on light exposure and it is concomitant with activation or inhibition of the outer segment of the photoreceptors. This also recruits CC, which provides blood flow and metabolic substrates. Thus, the inner choroid and outer retina are mutually dependent and their activity is orchestrated by light exposure in order to cope with metabolic demand. This is tuned by the autophagy status, which works as a sort of pivot in the cross-talk within the inner choroid/outer retina neurovascular unit. In degenerative conditions, and mostly during age-related macular degeneration (AMD), autophagy dysfunction occurs in this area to induce cell loss and extracellular aggregates. Therefore, a detailed analysis of the autophagy status encompassing CC, RPE and interposed BM is key to understanding the fine anatomy and altered biochemistry which underlie the onset and progression of AMD. |
