Aging-US: Senescent Secretory Phenotype Acquisition on Retinal Epithelial Stem Cells

Aging-US published a Special Collection on Eye Disease which included "Effects of senescent secretory phenotype acquisition on human retinal pigment epithelial stem cells" which reported that loss of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells occurs early in AMD, and their transplant has the potential to slow disease progression. Age-related MSC changes involve loss of function and acquisition of a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). These changes can contribute to the maintenance of a chronic state of low-grade inflammation in tissues and organs. Dr. Cesare Mariotti from The Università Politecnica delle Marche said, "Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disorder affecting the elderly which can induce an irreversible loss of central visual function." Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the most serious and debilitating forms of aging-related eye disease. Smoking, cataract surgery, high BMI and cardiovascular disease are risk factors for AMD, as well as a family history of AMD. No effective treatment is available for neovascular AMD, while anti-VEGFD is the mainstay of treatment for dry AMD. Neovascular AMD and GA are characterized by RPE dysfunction; formation of large confluent drusen and hyperpigmentation seem to be the initial insult. AMD patients show a different phenotype as well as functional changes such as altered autophagy, mitochondrial dysfunction, and susceptibility to oxidative stress. A greater understanding of the molecular pathways that are involved in the various stages of AMD would contribute to the development of innovative therapies. The Mariotti Research Team concluded in their Aging-US Research Output that RPESCs can undergo replicative senescence, which affects their proliferation and differentiation ability. In addition, they acquired the SASP, which probably compounds the inflammatory RPE microenvironment during AMD development and progression. A greater understanding of the role of RPESCs in AMD pathogenesis is needed to find means to control the disease. Full Text - https://www.aging-us.com/article/101624/text Correspondence to: Cesare Mariotti email: mariottiocul@gmail.com Keywords: AMD, RPESCs, age-related diseases, senescence, inflammation About Aging-US Launched in 2009, Aging-US publishes papers of general interest and biological significance in all fields of aging research as well as topics beyond traditional gerontology, including, but not limited to, cellular and molecular biology, human age-related diseases, pathology in model organisms, cancer, signal transduction pathways (e.g., p53, sirtuins, and PI-3K/AKT/mTOR among others), and approaches to modulating these signaling pathways. To learn more about Aging-US, please visit http://www.Aging-US.com or connect with @AgingJrnl Aging-US is published by Impact Journals, LLC please visit http://www.ImpactJournals.com or connect with @ImpactJrnls Media Contact 18009220957x105 MEDIA@IMPACTJOURNALS.COM