NLRP3 Inflammasome: Activation and Regulation in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Figure 1

Clinical stages and signs of age-related macular degeneration. (a) Fundus photos demonstrate clinical features of AMD at different stages. Early AMD shows yellow extracellular drusen deposits surrounding macular area. Late AMD (GA) shows hypopigmentation or background darkening () around drusen. A large number of drusen deposits are observed accumulated in the macular area. (b) Schematic diagram of drusen accumulation and RPE/photoreceptor degeneration from early to late stage AMD (GA). (c) Staining of human postmortem donor eye tissues depicting normal, early AMD, and late AMD. Arrows point to different forms of drusen: a large hard drusen in an early AMD eye and a diffuse, soft drusen in a late AMD (GA) eye. GA, geographic atrophy; ONH, optic nerve head; PR, photoreceptors; RPE, retinal pigment epithelium; BM, Bruch’s membrane; CH, choroidal capillaries.

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