LIPOFUSCIN OF THE RETINAL-PIGMENT EPITHELIUM - A REVIEW

Accumulation of lipofuscin is one of the most characteristic features of ageing observed in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, The lipo fuscin found in RPE cells differs from that of other body tissues due to the fact that it is mainly derived from the chemically modified res idues of incompletely digested photoreceptor outer segments, It is a h eterogeneous material composed of a mixture of lipids, proteins, and d ifferent fluorescent compounds, the main fluorophore of which has rece ntly been identified as a derivative of vitamin A. Research interest h as variously focussed on the roles of age, light damage, free radicals , antioxidants, visual pigments, retinal locus, lysosomal enzymes, and pigmentation on lipofuscin formation, as well. as the effects of lipo fuscin on RPE cell function and causation of retinal disease. This art icle reviews the recent advances in knowledge of the composition, orig in, and possible deleterious effects of RPE cell lipofuscin.