Fig. 7: ApoM-S1P as a potential therapeutic for early dry AMD. | Nature Communications

Fig. 7: ApoM-S1P as a potential therapeutic for early dry AMD.

From: Apolipoprotein M attenuates age-related macular degeneration phenotypes via sphingosine-1-phosphate signaling and lysosomal lipid catabolism

Fig. 7

ApoM is carried by HDL particles in systemic circulation and is made available to the RPE through the choriocapillaris. ApoM and its binding partner, S1P, activates S1PR3 on the RPE surface to activate lysosomal lipid catabolism to alleviate RPE lipid burden. Inactive S1PR3 allows aberrant accumulation of intracellular lipids within the RPE, leading to dysfunction and potentially increasing the risk to develop dry AMD features. By supplying the RPE with exogenous ApoM-S1P through plasma transfer, we can reduce lipid burden in the RPE through a S1PR3-dependent mechanism and subsequently reduce the risk of dry AMD pathogenesis (created in BioRender. Lee, T. (2025) https://BioRender.com/li4w1zf).

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