VEGF/VEGFR2 blockade does not cause retinal atrophy in AMD-relevant models
JCI Insight
|May 18, 2018
Summary
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) suppression does not cause retinal atrophy in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Anti-VEGF treatments are safe and should not be reduced due to concerns about retinal damage.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Anti-VEGF therapies are crucial for treating choroidal neovascularization (NV) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
- Concerns exist that VEGF suppression might cause retinal atrophy, leading to reduced treatment frequency and potentially poorer patient outcomes.
- Type 3 choroidal NV patients exhibit a higher risk of retinal atrophy, a phenomenon not fully explained.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of VEGF signaling in photoreceptor survival and function.
- To determine if VEGF suppression contributes to retinal atrophy in mouse models of AMD and inherited retinal degeneration.
Main Methods:
- Utilized mouse models to assess the impact of VEGFR2 neutralization on choroidal NV and photoreceptor health.
- Evaluated VEGF's effect on photoreceptor survival and function in inherited retinal degeneration models, with and without VEGF suppression.
- Investigated the cause of retinal atrophy in mice with type 3 choroidal NV.
Main Results:
- VEGF neutralization effectively suppressed choroidal NV without impairing photoreceptor function or survival.
- VEGF did not protect against photoreceptor loss in inherited retinal degeneration models, nor did VEGF suppression exacerbate it.
- Retinal atrophy in type 3 choroidal NV mice was attributed to oxidative damage, independent of VEGF suppression.
Conclusions:
- VEGF signaling is not essential for photoreceptor survival or function.
- Current anti-VEGF treatments for neovascular AMD are not associated with retinal atrophy.
- Treatment with intraocular VEGF-neutralizing proteins should not be limited due to concerns about causing long-term visual loss.
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