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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Mar 1.
Published in final edited form as: Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2013 Nov 17;25(3):107–114. doi: 10.1016/j.tem.2013.10.007

Figure 3. Drusen composition and similarities with atherosclerotic plaques.

Figure 3

Analysis of the composition of lipid-rich deposits (yellow) in drusen underneath the retina (left upper panel), or within atherosclerotic plaques (right upper panel) demonstrates similar constituents. Many complement proteins have been identified in drusen and atherosclerotic plaque suggesting an activation of the complement pathway within the deposits. Vitronectin, amyloid component, fibrinogen, clusterin and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (TIMP-3) are molecular constituents of both drusen and atherosclerotic plaques. In contrast, serum albumin and crystallins proteins are exclusive drusen components. ApoB lipoproteins are major constituents of drusen and atherosclerotic plaques. In addition to the plasma, the apoB deposited in drusen also have an intraocular source. Lipid profiling of drusen and atherosclerotic plaques revealed that they both contain esterified and unesterified cholesterol, fatty acids and phosphatidylcholine.