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Updated: Jun 26, 2026

The Corneal Micropocket Assay: A Model of Angiogenesis in the Mouse Eye
Published on: August 16, 2014
C5a, but not C3a, increases VEGF secretion in ARPE-19 human retinal pigment epithelial cells
Daniel N Cortright1, Robin Meade, Stephen M Waters
1Neurogen Corporation, Branford, Connecticut, USA. sciencefoundry@yahoo.com
Purpose:
We examined the potential for the pro-inflammatory complement proteins C5a and C3a to increase VEGF expression in ARPE-19 cells.
Materials And Methods:
Expression of complement receptors in ARPE-19 cells was evaluated by RT-PCR. VEGF secretion from ARPE-19 cells treated with C5a or C3a was determined by ELISA.
Results:
C5a and C3a receptor, but not C5L2, were detected in human eye tissue and ARPE-19 cells. C5a, but not C3a, treatment increased VEGF secretion from ARPE-19 cells, an effect inhibited by the C5aR antagonist, NDT 9513727.
Conclusions:
C5a receptor mediates increased VEGF secretion from ARPE-19 cells, suggesting a role for the C5a receptor in the pathogenesis of macular degeneration.

