Drusen deposits associated with aging and age-related macular degeneration contain nonfibrillar amyloid oligomers
J. Clin. Invest. Volker Luibl, et al. 116:378 doi:10.1172/JCI25843 [Go to this article.]

Figure 5
Codistribution of amyloid oligomer cores and other known drusen components. (A, E, and I) Differential interference contrast images. (B–D, F–H, and J–L) Confocal fluorescence images; amyloid oligomer cores were labeled with fluorescein (green). (A and B) Both antigens were present in a large druse, wherein the amyloid oligomer core was enveloped within the HLA-DR reactive region (labeled with Texas red). (C and D) At higher magnification, it is clear that the amyloid oligomer core and HLA-DR reactive subdomain did not colocalize in these drusen. (C) In one instance, the HLA-DR reactive region, perhaps reflecting a dendritic cell process, was observed as originating from the choroid (Ch), coming in close proximity to the Bm, and contacting the condensation of vesicular structures that represent the amyloid oligomer core. (D) In another instance, HLA-DR reactivity was observed as encompassing the choroid, the Bm, and the druse. Within the druse, HLA-DR reactivity appeared to surround the oligomer core, with no indication of colocalization. Similarly, no colocalization was observed with vitronectin (F–H) or Aβ (J–L), both labeled with Texas red (red). Lipofuscin autofluorescence within RPE is also visualized in the Cy3 channel (red). Scale bars: 10 μm. Magnification, ×250 (E, F, I, and J), ×1,500 (G), ×1,000 (H), and ×2,000 (K and L).