Fig. 7.

Amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide in senescence-mediated pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). A factor of AMD pathogenesis may initiate drusen (yellow) formation between choriocapilaris (CC) and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. Amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide is a component of drusen and can induce senescence in the affected cell, which acquires senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), releasing inflammatory cytokines and inducing local inflammation that contribute to the expansion of AMD phenotype in the same cell and neighboring cells. Autophagy may be a protective mechanism against these detrimental changes in the retina. PR photoreceptors, Bruch’s membrane is not presented