Abstract
Purpose: :
To ascertain if the serum MMP/TIMP profile in patients with neovascular AMD differs compared to controls and with regard their allelic variation of HTRA1
Methods: :
A pilot cohort of 60 Caucasian patients from a sample of 240 patients, classified into controls, early AMD (drusen) and neovascular AMD were genotyped for HTRA1 (rs11200638). The serum MMP/TIMP profile was examined using human MMP/TIMP protein microarray, to determine quantitatively the amount of 14 different MMPs/TIMPs
Results: :
The serum MMP-2 was decreased and MMP-9 was elevated in AMD compared to normal controls. The serum level of MMP-3, 8 and 9 showed a trend of association with homozygotes of the HTRA1 "at risk" allele
Conclusions: :
HTRA1 has been shown to confer an increased risk of AMD possibly through the regulation of extracellular matrix proteins in Bruch’s membrane. Our study supported this hypothesis but further data is required to confirm the association
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • Bruch's membrane • macula/fovea