Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: Patients with Age–related macular degeneration (AMD) exhibit pathologic neovascularization under the retina with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) suggestive of a defective angiogenesis. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) are present in the peripheral blood, contribute to angiogensis and vasculogenesis, and their regulation is altered in several vascular disorders. We tested the hypthesis the the numbers and functional properties of EPCs may be disorderd in patients with newly diagnosed neovascular AMD . Methods: Patients with established newly diagnosed neovascular AMD (n=15 ) and controls (n=10 ) were matched for risk factors for atherosclerosis, and medication that may influence the circulating pool of EPCs. Circulating EPC were assayed by the colony forming unit (CFU) method. The adhesive capacity of EPC was studied by evaluating their ability to attach to fibronectin and cultured endothelial cell. Serum levels of VEGF were studied and correlated with EPC numbers. Results: Circulating EPC measured by the CFU assay were signficantly reduced in patients with newly diagnosed neovascular AMD (16.5±2.8) as compared to their age matched controls (31±4.6; p=0.0085). No differences were evident with regard to the functional properties of EPC from newly diagnosed neovascular AMD patients and controls. VEGF serum levels did not correlate with EPC numbers. Conclusions: The peripheral circulating pool of endothelial stem cells is altered in patients with newly diagnosed neovascular AMD , suggesting that pathologic angiogenesis in these patients may either result from or influence the regulation of circulation endothelial precursors.
Keywords: choroid: neovascularization • age-related macular degeneration • vascular cells