Researchers have identified a new protein linked to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The protein, factor H-related protein 4 (FHR-4), was found in significantly higher levels in the blood of AMD patients.
The results of this study open up new routes for early diagnosis, by measuring FHR-4 levels in the blood, and suggests therapies targeting this protein could provide promising future treatment options for the disease.
FHR-4 regulates the complement system, part of the immune system, which plays a critical role in inflammation and the body's defense against infection. Previous studies have linked the complement system to AMD showing that genetically inherited faults in key complement proteins are strong risk factors for the condition.
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In this study, published in Nature Communications today, the researchers used a genome-wide association study to identify specific changes in the genome related to the increased levels of FHR-4 found in AMD patients. They found higher blood FHR-4 levels were associated with changes to genes that code for proteins belonging to the factor H family, which clustered together within a specific region of the genome. The identified genetic changes also overlapped with genetic variants first found to increase the risk of AMD over 20 years ago.
Together, the findings suggest that inherited genetic changes can lead to higher blood FHR-4 levels, which results in uncontrolled activation of the complement system within the eye and drives disease.
According to lead author Valentina Cipriani, "By unveiling FHR-4 as a novel, key molecular player for AMD, our study was able to dissect further the genetic disease predisposition at the factor H region. This is one of the most established genetic associations in the field of complex genetics. We hope our findings will accelerate interest from the wider research community in the involvement of the complement system in AMD, with the ultimate goal of uncovering the role of the whole 'complementome' in the disease."