Br J Ophthalmol 1997;81:154-162 ( February )
Laboratory science
Increased expression of angiogenic growth factors in age-related
maculopathy
Mike Kliffen,a
Hari S Sharma,b
Cornelia M Mooy,a c
Sonja Kerkvliet,c
Paulus T V M de Jongd
a Institute of Ophthalmology,
Erasmus University, Rotterdam, the Netherlands , b Institute of Pharmacology, Erasmus
University, Rotterdam, the Netherlands , c Institute of Pathology, Erasmus University, Rotterdam,
the Netherlands , d Netherlands Ophthalmic Research Institute,
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Correspondence to: Dr M Kliffen, Department of
Ophthalmic-Pathology, Hoboken Ee 993, Erasmus University, PO Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Accepted for publication 4 October 1996
AIMS/BACKGROUND
The late stages of age-related
maculopathy (ARM), especially neovascular macular degeneration (ARMD),
can severely affect central vision and are the main cause of blindness
in the elderly in the Western world. It has been shown that angiogenic
growth factors are present in neovascular membranes in ARMD. However, it is not known if angiogenic growth factors play a role in the onset
of neovascularisation.
METHODSIn order to elucidate the involvement of
angiogenic growth factors in the initiation of neovascularisation in
early stages of ARM, the expression patterns of VEGF, TGF-
, b-FGF,
and PDGF-AA on 18 human maculae with ARM, and on 11 control specimens
were investigated immunohistochemically.
RESULTSA significantly increased expression of
VEGF (p=0.00001) and TGF- (p=0.019) was found in the retinal pigment
epithelium (RPE) of maculae with ARM compared with control maculae.
Furthermore, an increased expression of VEGF and PDGF was found in the
outer nuclear layer of maculae with ARM.
CONCLUSIONThese results demonstrate an
increased expression of VEGF in the RPE, and in the outer nuclear layer
in maculae with ARM, that could be involved in the pathogenesis of
neovascular macular degeneration. Furthermore, enhanced TGF-
expression in the RPE cells of maculae with early stages of ARM was shown.
© 1997 by British Journal of Ophthalmology
