Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40653679›Full record

ArticleAging cell2025

Senescence Alters Antimicrobial Peptide Expression and Induces Amyloid-β Production in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells.

Jian Liu, Caijiao Yi, Jinyan Qi, Xuexue Cui, Xiangling Yuan, Wen Deng, Mei Chen, Heping Xu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Aging cell, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Jian LiuAier Academy of Ophthalmology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Caijiao YiAier Eye Institute, Changsha Aier Eye Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Jinyan QiAier Academy of Ophthalmology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Xuexue CuiAier Academy of Ophthalmology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Xiangling YuanAier Academy of Ophthalmology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Wen DengAier Eye Institute, Changsha Aier Eye Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Mei ChenThe Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
Heping XuAier Academy of Ophthalmology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.ORCID 0000-0003-4000-931X

Funding

Clinical Research Foundation of Aier Eye Hospital Group AIM2301D02Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China 2023JJ70047Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China 2025JJ90270Medical Research Council MR/W004682/1Philanthropy Foundation of Xiangjiang KY24002Philanthropy Foundation of Xiangjiang KY24008Science Research Foundation of Aier Eye Hospital Group AM2201D02Science Research Foundation of Aier Eye Hospital Group AMF2401D05Science Research Foundation of Aier Eye Institute AEI202304JC01
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Age-related retinal degeneration, such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration, are major causes of blindness in modern society. Recent studies suggest that dysbiosis and intraocular translocation of bacteria from the blood circulation are critically involved in retinal degeneration. We hypothesise that the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) cells can protect the neuroretina from blood-borne pathogens by producing antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). The antimicrobial activity may decline during ageing, putting the retina at risk of low-degree chronic inflammation and degeneration. Here, we found that the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, which form the outer BRB, express a variety of AMPs/AMP precursors, including APP, RARRES2, FAM3A, HAMP, CAMP, GNLY, and PI3. Senescent RPE cells expressed lower levels of APP and RARRES2 mRNA, accompanied by increased intracellular retention of E. coli in a bactericidal assay. Silencing APP, not RARRES2, with shRNA reduced the antibacterial activity of RPE cells. Senescent RPE cells had lower levels of α-secretase and higher levels of β-secretase (BACE1) and γ-secretase (PS1), accompanied by reduced soluble APPα and increased amyloid beta (Aβ) production, particularly the Aβ42 isoform. Eyes from aged donors showed a higher Aβ accumulation within RPE cells. Our results suggest that while RPE cells possess antimicrobial activity, this ability declines with age and is impaired in senescent cells. The impaired antimicrobial activity and augmented Aβ deposition in senescent RPE cells may contribute to age-related retinal para-inflammation and neurodegeneration.

Indexed as

Amyloid beta-PeptidesAntimicrobial PeptidesCellular SenescenceEpithelial CellsRetinal Pigment EpitheliumAmyloid Precursor Protein SecretasesHumansAmyloid beta-PeptidesAmyloid Precursor Protein SecretasesAntimicrobial Peptidesageingblood‐retinal barrierimmune regulationinfectiousmicrobiotapara‐inflammationretinal degeneration

Identifiers

PMID40653679
PMCPMC12419862

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.