Exosomes and Autophagy: Suspicious Partners in Drusen Biogenesis and AMD

The goal of this study is to understand how autophagy and exosome pathways in RPE and retinal cells contribute to drusen formation and AMD progression and to identify potential biomarkers for AMD.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects a part of the retina called the macula responsible for clear vision. A damaged macula will lead to central vision loss, significantly affecting the quality of life affected by this disease. There is no treatment for dry AMD. The research team seeks to understand how little vesicles, called exosomes, that retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and retinal cells secrete and contain many cellular bioproducts contribute to drusen formation and the progression of AMD. They will also identify bioactive molecules released in exosomes that could serve as potential biomarkers for AMD.

Ours relies on cutting-edge technologies: stem cell differentiation, in vitro disease modeling, exosome purification, and biochemistry. If successful, our aims will clarify the impact of autophagy on exosome cargo composition; define the contribution of exosomes to drusen formation; elucidate if exosomes release serves as a cellular mechanism to bypass the autophagic defect in AMD; uncover AMD-specific cargo contained within exosomes. Since these vesicles travel through biofluids, our studies will be used to test whether circulating exosomes serve as biomarkers of AMD; reveal the contribution.

The goal is to bridge basic research on AMD with clinical application by transforming our understanding of AMD pathophysiology and drusen formation. This involves preclinical validation, investigating interventions targeting autophagy and exosomes, biomarker development, diagnostic tool integration, therapeutic development, and patient stratification for personalized treatments. Through these strategies, we aim to improve AMD diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcomes.