Relationship between macrophage polarization and age-related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes to blindness worldwide in elderly population.Innate immune system elements, such as macrophages and cytokines, play an important role in AMD pathology and pathogenesis.In AMD, macrophages can be functionally polarized into M1 (classically activated) and M2 (alternatively activated), as well as regulatory cells, in response to systems biology approaches.Imbalances in the M1 and M2 populations together with activation of retinal microglia are observed and potentially contribute to tissue degeneration.In this review, the phenomenon of macrophage polarization in AMD study was summarized, and the relationship between macrophage polarization and dry AMD, wet AMD, AMD related risk factors were discussed. Key words: Age-related macular degeneration; Macrophage polarization; M1 macrophage; M2 macrophage