P2X7-mediated alteration of membrane fluidity is associated with the late stages of age-related macular degeneration

C Drysdale; K Park; KA Vessey; X Huang; E Caruso; Y Li; J Wong; JS Wiley; E Fletcher; RH Guymer; BJ Gu

Journal article

P2X7-mediated alteration of membrane fluidity is associated with the late stages of age-related macular degeneration

C Drysdale, K Park, KA Vessey, X Huang, E Caruso, Y Li, J Wong, JS Wiley, E Fletcher, RH Guymer, BJ Gu

Purinergic Signalling | SPRINGER | Published : 2022

DOI: 10.1007/s11302-022-09894-y

Abstract

We have shown deficits in monocyte phagocytosis from patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Cell membrane fluidity is known to affect phagocytic capacity and leucocyte functionality more generally. Therefore, we examined membrane fluidity of peripheral blood leucocytes in human patients with AMD and in the P2X7 null mouse model of AMD using flow cytometry with a fluorescent probe for fluidity, TMA-DPH. The results showed that membrane fluidity was decreased in all leucocyte types of late AMD relative to healthy controls (HC) including monocytes, neutrophils and lymphocytes but this was not apparent in earlier stages of AMD. Further analysis of factors contributing to membrane ..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Kirstan Vessey Author

Erica Fletcher Author

Robyn Guymer Author

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Grants

Awarded by BrightFocus Foundation

Funding Acknowledgements

This work was supported by ARC Future Fellowship (BG, FT120100581) and NHMRC Project Grant (1048082, 1061419, 1120095), Principal Research Fellowship (RG, 1103013), Macular Disease Foundation Australia Project Grant (2014-2016), Macular Society Grant USA (2015), BrightFocus Foundation Project Grant (M2016061) and the Victorian Government's Operational Infrastructure Support Grant to the Florey Institute.