Abstract
Purpose: :
Retinal neovascularization is a potentially blinding complication of many ocular diseases. We have formulated a primate model of retinal neovascularization in order to develop and test effective inhibitors of neovascularization.
Methods: :
The model is a further refinement of our murine model (1). Briefly, primate (rhesus macaques) eyes were treated with photocoagulation and intravitreal VEGF. Chemokines, including SDF–1 are known modulators of neovascularization. We inhibited SDF–1 with an intravitreally injected antibody (n=3.)
Results: :
Control eyes, which did not receive the selective antibody, developed abnormal levels of vascularization (n=2) in the pre–retinal, intra–retinal, and subretinal space. Antibody to SDF–1 reduced neovascularization levels to near baseline. A complete hematologic and pathologic examination revealed no retinal toxicity secondary to the anti–SDF–1 antibody therapy (n=5.)
Conclusions: :
Anti SDF–1 therapy may have clinical applications for human ocular disease. SDF–1 – stromal derived factor–1
VEGF = vascular endothelial growth factor
1. Grant, M.B. et al. Nature Medicine 2002; 8 p.607
Keywords: neovascularization • cytokines/chemokines • retinal neovascularization