Renin–angiotensin system impairs macrophage lipid metabolism to promote age-related macular degeneration in mouse models

摘要

a, b Regular intake of HFD-induced obesity in BALB/c mice (a), and upregulated angiotensinogen in the retina and RPE–choroid tissue, and AT1R in the RPE–choroid tissue (b). c Intraperitoneal injection of either vehicle or an ARB, valsartan, was performed once per day for the last 7 days of both experiments (1- and 3-month study), to ND- and HFD-fed mice. d, e Representative ERG waves formed from individual mice, and amplitudes and implicit times of a- and b-waves of each group (d at 1 month; e at 3 months). Impaired visual function by HFD was recovered by ARB. The a-wave shows photoreceptor function. ND normal diet, HFD high-fat diet, AT1R angiotensin II type 1 receptor, ARB AT1R blocker (valsartan), RPE retinal pigment epithelium, ERG electroretinogram; bn = 10 for each group. d, e Respective numbers for ND mice treated with control, ND mice treated with ARB, HFD mice treated with control, and HFD mice treated with ARB were 12, 8, 12, 12. The samples were all biologically independent. Data are expressed as means ± standard deviation; *P < 0.05.