Systemic expression of Alu RNA in patients with geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration.

Geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is characterized by irreversible loss of macular retinal tissue and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. Several studies have revealed that accumulation of Alu RNA in RPE cell causes RPE cell degeneration in AMD. In the present study, systemic Alu RNA expression levels were determined in 33 subjects with GA and 40 control subjects using a proprietary Alu RNA quantification method. It was observed that the expression level of Alu RNA was not significantly different between GA and Control groups (median = 21.3 in both GA and Control groups, P = 0.251). In addition, the systemic level of Alu RNA was not associated with subject characteristics, such as GA lesion size and SNP profiles of complement factors associated with increased risk of AMD. In conclusion, the usability of systemic Alu RNA expression level as a biomarker of GA secondary to AMD could not be established in this study.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

HY, TM, EK, YF, TI, MT, TI and MN are employed by Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. RK is employed by Santen Inc. The authors declare that no competing interests exist. This does not alter the authors’ adherence to PLoS ONE policies regarding sharing data and materials.