Role of long-chain and very-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in macular degenerations and dystrophies

Abstract

Macular degeneration is a progressive, bilateral eye disorder that damages the macula of the human eye. The most common form of macular degeneration is age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in people older than 50 years in developed countries. Autosomal dominant Stargardt disease-3 (STGD3) is an inherited macular dystrophy that has clinical features similar to dry AMD, but occurs at a much earlier age. It is caused by a mutation in the elongation of very-long-chain fatty acids-like 4 (ELOVL4) gene, which is responsible for encoding the elongase enzyme that converts shorter chain fatty acids into C28–C38 very long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLCPUFAs, total number of carbons ≥24). Diets rich in long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) have inverse associations with the progression of AMD and STGD3, and a deficiency in retinal LCPUFAs and VLCPUFAs has been detected in AMD retinas and STGD3 animal models. This article systematically summarizes the roles of LCPUFAs and VLCPUFAs in AMD and STGD3, and discusses future research directions.

New Lipophenol Antioxidants Reduce Oxidative Damage in Retina Pigment Epithelial Cells

“…The mechanism by which lipophenol may increase cell viability could be through enhancement of the cell integrity and/or the induction of cell proliferation. Indeed, beneficial effects of DHA as an antioxidant and protective agent have been already described [51,52] in RPE cells, in patients, and rats. Surprisingly, when substituted with ALA at position 3, an enhanced toxicity was observed with a CC 50 = 69.44 µM and an acute toxicity up to 80 µM.…”

Docosahexaenoic acid, 22:6n‐3: Its roles in the structure and function of the brain

“…Brain and retina tissues contain around 40% and 60% DHA of total PUFAs, respectively. DHA is present in high amounts in retinal photoreceptors and is therefore essential for visual function(Liu et al, 2011). Animal studies and human observational studies have suggested that there is an inverse relationship between dietary intake of n‐3 LCPUFAs and the risk of developing age‐related macular degeneration.…”

Associations of human retinal very long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids with dietary lipid biomarkers

“…Eyes with large drusen, severe macular atrophy, macular hemorrhage, or any grossly visible chorioretinal pathologic abnormalities were excluded. After the cornea, iris, ciliary body, and lens were removed, a 4 mm peripheral retina (PR) region in the nasal mid-PR was punched with a trephine because previous studies from our laboratory have already indicated that lipid profi les of PR do not differ substantially from lipid profi les of macular tissue ( 29,30 ). All punched human ocular tissues were stored in tubes fi lled with argon gas and kept at Ϫ 80°C.…”