Medication for Macular Degeneration: Comparison
Please note this is a comparison between Version 1 by Dae-Hun Park and Version 2 by Jason Zhu.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is central vision loss with aging, was the fourth main cause of blindness in 2015, and has many risk factors, such as cataract surgery, cigarette smoking, family history, hypertension, obesity, long-term smart device usage, etc. In general, AMD drug candidates from natural products are more effective at treating early and intermediate AMD.

  • age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
  • medication
  • anti-inflammatory drugs
  • natural products

1. Introduction

1.1. Definition

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is related to aging and is a disease that causes problems in the central region of the retina, also known as the macula [1]. AMD patients experience several physiological changes, such as the loss of central vision, drusen, retinal pigmentary changes, angiogenesis, etc., and according to angiogenesis in the retina, it can be classified as dry AMD or wet AMD, with the percentage of wet AMD cases reported to be 10–15% of the total AMD cases [2].

1.2. Health Problems, Statistics, and Risk Factors

In 2015, AMD was the fourth most common cause of blindness, and among patients with moderate to severe vision impairment, it was the third most common cause [3]. Among those aged 80 years and above, 66% have several signs of AMD [4][5][4,5], and 3% of those over 65 years old suffer visual problems caused by AMD [6]. According to Zou’s study on the global burden of AMD from 1990 to 2017, special groups can significantly suffer from AMD, such as females, the elderly, those from developing countries, and low-educated persons, etc., and from 1990 to 2017, AMD contributed to a doubling of the number of people living a low quality of life [7]. An even more serious consideration is that the number of global AMD patients has been predicted to rise from 196 million in 2020 to 288 million in 2040 [8].

1.3. Classification of Current Medication

Currently, there are several types of AMD medication, including device-based treatment (prophylactic laser or photocoagulation therapy, photodynamic therapy), anti-inflammatory drug treatment (corticosteroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)), anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) intravitreal injection, nutritional therapy (antioxidants, ω-3 fatty acids, lutein, zeaxanthin, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, plant extracts, etc.), etc.

2. Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

Drusen is one of the hallmarks for diagnosing AMD, as they are made by the destruction of RPE cells with advancing years, and the inflammation is closely related to AMD progress, as that produces drusen [9][65]. It is important to suppress inflammation progress to inhibit the severity of AMD (late AMD), and as shown Figure 1, there is an anti-inflammatory pathway caused by corticosteroid drugs and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Figure 1. Anti-inflammatory pathway caused by corticosteroid drugs and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Corticosteroid drugs inhibit the formation of arachidonic acid by causing plasma membrane breakage, which is caused by phospholipase A2. On the other hand, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) only control arachidonic acid and prostaglandins through cyclooxygenase 1 or 2 (COX-1 or -2). Ijms 22 11837 i001
In 2008, an epidemiological study on the relation between anti-inflammatory drug use and AMD occurrence was conducted based on 614 patients (the average age and standard deviation, 72.9 ± 6.8) and 4,526 normal veterans (the average age and standard deviation, 73.2 ± 6.7) from 1997 to 2001 [10][66]. According to the study’s results, anti-inflammatory drug use suppressed the occurrent risk of AMD. As the macrophage-derived proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) especially increase when Bruch’s membrane is destroyed, and as they stimulate the increment of vascular endothelial cells, anti-inflammatory drugs can effectively suppress AMD progress [11][67]. In Table 1, anti-inflammatory drugs that are used in AMD treatment are summarized.
Table 1.
Summary of anti-inflammatory drugs for AMD treatment.
Classification Application Route and Therapeutic Effect Reference
Corticosteroids Dexamethasone 1. Topical application with artemisinin
  • ‒ to control CNV in AMD progress
[12][68]
2. Three combined therapies: dexamethasone, an anti-VEGF drug, and verteporfin with photodynamic therapy
  • ‒ to decrease the anti-VEGF drug’s dosing quantity
[13][69]
Triamcinolone Acetonide (TA) 1. Intravitreal injection
  • ‒ to decrease the dosing time for macular edema and uveitis
[14][70]
2. Combined intravitreal TA and bevacizumab injection
  • ‒ to control CNV in AMD patients who failed to be treated by bevacizumab treatment alone
[15][71]
Spironolactone (mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist) Oral administration
  • ‒ to suppress CNV in refractory AMD patients using intravitreal anti-VEGF injection
[16][72]
NSAIDs Aspirin Topical application
  • ‒ to decrease AMD prevalence not only at high doses but also to have no effects at low doses
[17][18][19][73,74,75]
Nepafenac (prodrug) Topical application
  • ‒ to induce potent anti-inflammatory activity, such as higher vascular permeability, longer inhibition of PGE synthesis, and better corneal penetration
[20][76]
Diclofenac, Ketorolac Intravitreal diclofenac and ketorolac injection
  • ‒ to control inflammation in an LPS-induced inflammation rabbit model
[21][77]

2.1. Corticosteroid Drugs

Corticosteroid drugs can perfectly inhibit the inflammation occurrence pathway, as they significantly control the arachidonic acid synthesis from plasma membrane breakage using phospholipase A2 [22][78] (Figure 1). Topical nanodispersion of dexamethasone and artemisinin on the eyeball effectively control CNV in AMD progress [12][68], and triple therapy using dexamethasone, bevacizumab, and verteporfin with photodynamic therapy is one of the anti-vascularization therapies used for AMD [13][69]. Triamcinolone acetonide (TA) has been widely used as a drug for macular edema and uveitis, as its effective duration is longer than that of dexamethasone [14][70], and combined intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide and bevacizumab injection has provided treatment to AMD patients who failed to be treated by the intravitreal injection of bevacizumab alone [15][71]. Spironolactone is a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that can be orally administered, and it is used to effectively suppress CNV in patients refractory to intravitreal anti-VEGF injections [16][72].

2.2. Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit the synthesis of prostaglandins (PGEs) via inactivating cycloxygenase-1 (COX-1) or cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2), and they have been used as anti-inflammatory and antipyretic agents and analgesic drugs [22][78] (Figure 1). They are used as topical applicants for various ophthalmological purposes—for example, as an inflammation suppressor against allergic conjunctivitis and keratitis, a down-regulator for cystoid macular edema, a contractor for cataract surgery, etc. [23][79]. Aspirin is a famous NSAID, but although a low aspirin dose has been found to not affect AMD occurrence [17][18][73,74], a high aspirin dose might decrease AMD prevalence [19][75]. Nepafenac is a potent NSAID prodrug that has higher vascular permeability, longer inhibition of PGE synthesis, and better corneal penetration than others [20][76]. Intravitreal diclofenac and ketorolac injections have been found to effectively control inflammation in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ocular inflammation rabbit model [21][77].

3. Drug Candidates Originated from Natural Products

Lutein and zeaxanthin exist as meso-zeaxanthin (a dipolar form, dihydroxylated carotenoid) in the retina, called macular xanthophylls, [24][100] which are included in dark green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, peas, etc. and egg yolks [25][101], and they suppress phototoxicity-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in the visual system [26][102] and also induce G2/M phase arrest in the RPE [27][103]. Recently, there have been many trials that have investigated AMD drug candidates from natural products, with these products especially studied for their ability to regulate the RPE’s status (Table 2). These natural product candidates can be classified into (1) anti-apoptosis inducers, (2) cell cycle arrest modulators, and (3) VEGF inactivators. Based on the apoptotic pathway, the candidates can be grouped into (1) anti-oxidative stress, (2) anti-inflammation, and (3) anti-carbonyl stress candidates. One hundred percent EtOH extract of Arctium lappa L. leaves has been found to have plentiful amounts of phenolics and flavonoids, and it effectively suppressed both oxidative stress by scavenging effects of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(ABTS) and apoptosis by modulating bcl-2 family and caspase cascade [28][104]. Genipin is a glycosidic ligand that has been found to suppress H2O2-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis via nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf2), which regulates the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H: quinine oxidoreductase 1 (NQOA) [29][105]. Delphinidin is one of the anthocyanins that exists in several fruits and vegetables [30][106] and has been found to significantly inhibit the synthesis of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through modulating antioxidative enzyme activation and apoptosis via regulating the bcl-2 family and caspase cascade [31][107]. Glabridin (isoflavonoid) from Glycyrrhiza glabra L. root has been demonstrated to inhibit oxidative stress and apoptosis through ERK1/2 and p38MAPK inactivation [32][108]. Wogonin (5,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone), isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi root, has been found to control LPS-induced inflammation changes such as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, COX-2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) via the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/NF-κB pathway [33][109]. Hot water extract of Prunella vulgaris var. L has been observed to prevent oxidative stress by ROS generation, carbonyl stress by MDA production, and inflammation through Nrf2/HO-1 pathway [34][110]. Vaccinium uliginosum L. hot water extract has been found to suppress A2E- and blue light-induced apoptosis by controlling caspase cascade and bcl-2 pathway [35][111]. Baicalin, a flavonoid isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, has been found to inhibit Aβ-induced pyroptosis through modulating miR-223/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway [36][112]. β-carotene, as a typical carotenoid, has anti-oxidative effects and is one of the major components in tomatoes (Lycopersicum esculentum L.) [37][113] and has been reported to down-regulate H2O2-induced nitrotyrosine formation and protein carbonylation [38]. Bile acid is synthesized in the liver (primary bile acid) and in the colon (secondary bile acid), and is known as bile salt when it is conjugated with taurine or glycine [39][114]; the major bile salts include taurocholic acid, glycocholic acid, taurochenodeoxycholic acid, and glycochenodeoxycholic acid, etc. [40][115], and taurocholic acid, one of the major bile salts, has been demonstrated to inhibit angiogenesis-related cell proliferation, cell migration, and tube formation [41][116].
Table 2.
Summary of AMD drug candidates developed from natural products.
Therapeutic

Mechanism
Natural Product Application References
Species Applied Characteristic Effective Compound Model Route Minimum

Effective Dose
Inhibition of oxidative stress and apoptosis Arctium lappa L. leaf 100% EtOH extract Phenolic and flavonoid RPE cell Media 30 μg/mL for 24 h [28][104]
Mouse I.P. 50 mg/kg for 4 w
Eucommia ulmoides Genipin

(glycosidic ligand)
Genipin

(glycosidic ligand)
ARPE-19 cell Media 30 μM for 24 h [29][105]
Fruit or Vegetable Delphinidin

(anthocyanidin)
Delphinidin

(anthocyanidin)
ARPE-19 cell Media 25 μg/mL for 24 h [31][107]
Glycyrrhiza glabra L. root Glabridin

(isoflavonoid)
Glabridin

(isoflavonoid)
RPE cell Media 2 μM for 2 h [32][108]
Mouse I.P. 20 mg/kg for 1 w
Inhibition of inflammation and apoptosis Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi root 5,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone

(wogonin)
5,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone

(wogonin)
ARPE-19 cell Media 10 μM for 24 h [33][109]
Inhibition of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis Prunella vulgaris var. L Water extract Rosmarinic Acid ARPE-19 cell Media 100 μg/mL for 24 h [34][110]
Mouse P.O. 100 mg/kg for 4 day
Inhibition of apoptosis Vaccinium uliginosum L Water extract Polyphenol ARPE-19 cell Media 100 μg/mL for 24 h [35][111]
Inhibition of pyroptosis Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi Baicalin Baicalin ARPE-19 cell Media 50 μg/mL for 72 h [36][112]
Inhibition of carbonyl stress Lycopersicum esculentum L.

(Tomato)
n-hexane extract β-carotene ARPE-19 cell Media 1 μM-β-carotene

for 24 h
[38]
Inhibition of G2/M phase arrest Fruit or Vegetable Lutein Lutein ARPE-19 cell Media 25 μg/mL for 24 h [27][103]
Inhibition of VEGF activation Bile Acid

(Animal)
Taurocholic acid Taurocholic acid HRPEpiC cell Media 100 μM for 48 h [41][116]