Reduction of laser-induced choroidal neovascularization by intravitreal vasohibin-1 in monkey eyes

To determine whether intravitreal vasohibin-1 will reduce the grade of the choroidal neovascularization in monkey eyes.

Choroidal neovascularizations were induced in 12 monkey eyes by laser photocoagulation. Three monkeys were evaluated for the safety of the vasohibin-1 injections, 6 monkeys for the effects of a single injection, and 3 monkeys for repeated injections of vasohibin-1. Ophthalmoscopy, fluorescein angiography, focal electroretinograms, and optical coherence tomography were used for the evaluations. The level of vascular endothelial growth factor in the aqueous was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Immunohistochemistry was performed.

An intravitreal injection of 10 μg of vasohibin-1 induced mild intraocular inflammation. Eyes with an intravitreal injection of 0.1 μg and 1.0 μg of vasohibin-1 had significant less fluorescein leakage from the choroidal neovascularizations and larger amplitude focal electroretinograms than that of vehicle-injected eyes. Similar results were obtained by repeated injections of 0.1 μg of vasohibin-1. Immunohistochemistry showed that vasohibin-1 was expressed mainly in the endothelial cells within the choroidal neovascularizations. The vascular endothelial growth factor level was not significantly altered by intravitreal vasohibin-1.

The reduction of the laser-induced choroidal neovascularizations and preservation of macular function in monkey by intravitreal vasohibin-1 suggest that it should be considered for suppressing choroidal neovascularizations in humans.