A Non-Canonical Role for β-Secretase in the Retina.
It has long been established that β-Secretase (BACE) plays a critical role in the formation of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's Disease patients, but it is only recently that the importance of β-secretases in retinal pathophysiology has been recognized. BACE expression is elevated in response to stress, and downregulation results in lysosomal abnormalities and mitochondrial changes. Inhibition of BACE can lead to reduced retinal function, retinal thinning, lipofuscin accumulation and vascular dysfunction in mice. Furthermore, BACE inhibition accelerates choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in mice. We propose that BACE plays an important role in retinal homeostasis and that BACE upregulation in response to stress is a protective measure.
['Qian|Qingwen|Q|', 'Mitter|Sayak K|SK|', 'Pay|S Louise|SL|', 'Qi|Xiaoping|X|', 'Rickman|Catherine Bowes|CB|', 'Grant|Maria B|MB|', 'Boulton|Michael E|ME|']
D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases D000818:Animals D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy D004195:Disease Models, Animal D006706:Homeostasis D006801:Humans D008268:Macular Degeneration D051379:Mice D012160:Retina
β-secretase Lysosomes Age-related macular degeneration Angiogenesis Choroidal neovascularisation Mitochondria Retinal degeneration Retinal pigment epithelium