Role of immune inflammation regulated by macrophage in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can lead to irreversible impairment of visual function, and the number of patients with AMD has been increasing globally. The immunoinflammatory theory is an important pathogenic mechanism of AMD, with macrophages serving as the primary inflammatory infiltrating cells in AMD lesions. Its powerful immunoinflammatory regulatory function has attracted considerable attention. Herein, we provide an overview of the involvement of macrophage-regulated immunoinflammation in different stages of AMD. Additionally, we summarize novel therapeutic approaches for AMD, focusing on targeting macrophages, such as macrophage/microglia modulators, reduction of macrophage aggregation in the subretinal space, modulation of macrophage effector function, macrophage phenotypic alterations, and novel biomimetic nanocomposites development based on macrophage-associated functional properties. We aimed to provide a basis and reference for the further exploration of AMD pathogenesis, developmental influences, and new therapeutic approaches. • Provide an overview of the involvement of macrophage-regulated immunoinflammation in AMD. • Summarize novel therapeutic approaches for AMD, focusing on targeting macrophages. • Provide a basis and reference for the further exploration of AMD. This paper is a systematic literature review. We conducted a literature search on PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for the keywords: macular degeneration [Mesh], macrophages [Mesh], aging [Mesh], therapeutics [Mesh], inflammation [Mesh], immune, complement. While writing this review, relevant citations were also cross-referenced. We selected all the experimental studies, clinical studies and reviews that fit our search. We excluded articles published before 1990. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]