Abstract
Presentation Description :
We discovered that L-DOPA is the endogenous ligand of GPR143, a GPCR in the pigmetation pathway. L-DOPA is frequently prescribed for patients with movement disorders such as Parkinson's Disease. GPR143 was originally identified as the cause of ocular albinism (OA) and is therefore a component of the pigmentation pathway in the RPE. Lack of GPR143 activity in the RPE causes the retina defects associated with albinism, indicating that GPR143 functions to support the neurosensory retina. L-DOPA is produced by tyrosinase as a byproduct of pigment synthesis, creating an autocrine loop that supports the neurosensory retina driven through pigmentation in the RPE. AMD is a complex retinal degeneration that displays significant racial bias and is much more common in the white population than the black population, suggesting RPE pigmentation may protect from AMD. We conducted a retrospective chart analysis to test whether individuals prescribed L-DOPA are protected from AMD. Results suggested L-DOPA prevents and delays the onset of AMD. Our results supported the development of prospective clinical trials to test whether L-DOPA can treat or prevent AMD. We have initiated several prospective clinical trials to test this hypothesis and early results will be presented.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.