Methods and Reagents for Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

A method of treating a human patient in need of treatment for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) comprising introducing into at least some of the cells of the patient an exogenous polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of

• (a) a polynucleotide encoding for native Complement Factor H (CFH) polypeptide, said polypeptide having at least 90% identity to SEQ. ID No. 2, or an active fragment thereof;
• (b) a polynucleotide encoding for CFH polypeptide with the proviso that residue 402, numbered relative to SEQ. ID No. 2, is tyrosine, said polypeptide having at least 90% identity to SEQ. ID No. 2, or an active fragment thereof;
• (c) a polynucleotide encoding for CFH polypeptide with the proviso that residue 62, is isoleucine, numbered relative to SEQ. ID No. 2, said polypeptide having at least 90% identity to SEQ. ID No. 2;
• (d) purified anti-sense RNA complementary to a RNA encoding for CFH polypeptide with the proviso that at residue 402, numbered relative to SEQ. ID No. 2, said polypeptide having at least 90% identity to SEQ. ID No. 2, or an active fragment thereof;
• (e) siRNA that interferes with the expression of a CFH polypeptide which makes one more susceptible to AMD;
• and
• (f) a polynucleotide encoding for native Complement Factor H Related 5 (CFHR5) polypeptide, said polypeptide having at least 90% identity to SEQ. ID No. 8, or an active fragment thereof.