Association Between C22:5-Containing Lipids and RPE Pathologies in Mice with Tmem135 Overexpression.

Dysregulation of lipid metabolism has been linked with risk for age-related retinal diseases including age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, how dysregulated lipid metabolism contributes to AMD development is unknown. In this study, we evaluated the retinal and plasma lipidomes of a mouse model displaying retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) pathologies that are observed in AMD including RPE dysmorphia and degeneration. We found that the RPE phenotypes in mice overexpressing transmembrane protein 135 (Tmem135 TG) are correlated with retinal and plasma lipidome changes. While distinct lipid profiles were observed in the retina and plasma of Tmem135 TG mice, a common finding in both retinal and plasma lipidomes was an increase of lipids containing C22:5. This data suggests that accumulation of C22:5-containing lipids may contribute to the development of the RPE pathologies in Tmem135 TG mice.