Preprint
Metabolic Analysis of Human Retinal Pigment Epithelium and Choroid Tissue in Aging and Macular Degeneration
bioRxiv
03/26/2026
DOI: 10.64898/2026.03.24.713982
PMID: 41929012
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration is a common ocular disease that causes vision loss in the elderly, with a complex set of risk factors and proposed mechanisms of pathogenesis. A powerful method for investigating changes in disease is metabolomics, by which small molecules can be identified and quantified simultaneously. We report here the metabolic analysis of human RPE-choroid tissue in aging and macular degeneration (AMD), as well as comparisons of human macular and extramacular RPE-choroid and neural retina. Levels of 215 metabolites were determined in young donors, AMD donors (early/intermediate, geographic atrophy, and neovascularization) and age-matched controls. The largest number of metabolite differences were observed between young and healthy aged controls, as opposed to between aged controls and any stage of AMD. Two notable metabolites found to be increased in aging choroids are trimethylamine N-oxide and uric acid, both of which were significant after Bonferroni correction. A mouse endothelial cell line treated with a high concentration of uric acid exhibited reduced migration in a wound closure assay. This study provides initial insights into the metabolome of human choroids in varying states of age and macular degeneration, as well as functional implications of these changes in the aging choroid.Age-related macular degeneration is a common ocular disease that causes vision loss in the elderly, with a complex set of risk factors and proposed mechanisms of pathogenesis. A powerful method for investigating changes in disease is metabolomics, by which small molecules can be identified and quantified simultaneously. We report here the metabolic analysis of human RPE-choroid tissue in aging and macular degeneration (AMD), as well as comparisons of human macular and extramacular RPE-choroid and neural retina. Levels of 215 metabolites were determined in young donors, AMD donors (early/intermediate, geographic atrophy, and neovascularization) and age-matched controls. The largest number of metabolite differences were observed between young and healthy aged controls, as opposed to between aged controls and any stage of AMD. Two notable metabolites found to be increased in aging choroids are trimethylamine N-oxide and uric acid, both of which were significant after Bonferroni correction. A mouse endothelial cell line treated with a high concentration of uric acid exhibited reduced migration in a wound closure assay. This study provides initial insights into the metabolome of human choroids in varying states of age and macular degeneration, as well as functional implications of these changes in the aging choroid.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Metabolic Analysis of Human Retinal Pigment Epithelium and Choroid Tissue in Aging and Macular Degeneration
- Creators
- Emma M Navratil - University of IowaXiuying Liu - University of Iowa, The University of Iowa Institute for Vision ResearchLuke A Wiley - University of IowaMichael G Anderson - University of IowaKacie J Meyer - University of IowaReid F Brown - University of IowaIdil A Evans - University of IowaEric B Taylor - University of IowaEdwin M Stone - University of IowaBudd A Tucker - University of IowaRobert F Mullins - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Preprint
- Publication Details
- bioRxiv
- DOI
- 10.64898/2026.03.24.713982
- PMID
- 41929012
- ISSN
- 2692-8205
- eISSN
- 2692-8205
- Language
- English
- Date posted
- 03/26/2026
- Academic Unit
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics; The University of Iowa Institute for Vision Research; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; John and Marcia Carver Nonprofit Genetic Testing Laboratory; Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center; Neuroscience and Pharmacology; Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
- Record Identifier
- 9985149085502771
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