Figure 2.

Overview of necrosis, apoptosis, and pyroptosis pathways involved in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell death in age-related macular degeneration. In necrosis, the necrosome forms complex proteins that attach to the mitochondrial membrane, triggering cell death. Apoptosis can be activated through the intrinsic or extrinsic pathways, which eventually result in the activation of caspase 3 and then cell death. Pyroptosis can occur through caspase 1-dependent or independent pathways, which lead to the generation of an N-terminal fragment that induces cell death.