The role of plasmalogens in the photoreactivity of human retinal lipid extracts of different age groups

Purpose: Plasmalogens (PLs) constitute a specific subclass of phospholipids characterized by a vinyl-ether bond in SN-1 position of the glycerol backbone and account for 10% of total phospholipids in the retina, where are considered as sacrificial antioxidants. PLs above 50% of other phospholipids present in the retina contain polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) chain in SN-2 position. In this work we analyzed the influence of PLs on of phospholipids naturally occurring in the human retina (SRL) in a model system and in retinal pigment epithelium cells in vitro. Methods: Lipid composition of human retinal extracts (RLE) has been determined by GC and LC/MS analysis. RLE and SRL with and withou…