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Published on: September 16, 2020
CD160 Expression in Retinal Vessels Is Associated With Retinal Neovascular Diseases
Adrien Henry1, Camille Boulagnon-Rombi2, Thierry Menguy3
1Department of Ophthalmology, Hôpital Robert Debré, Reims, France.
Purpose:
Anti-angiogenic agents stand first in the treatment of neovascular diseases of the retina. CD160 appeared in several experimental studies as a marker of activated endothelial cells, suggesting it could represent a promising target for novel anti-angiogenic therapies. The aim of the present study was to assess the distribution of CD160 in the human eye, and to search for a possible correlation with retinal neovascular diseases.
Methods:
The physiological distribution of CD160 in the normal eye was assessed with immunolabeling in 10 human donor eyes. Then, in a retrospective cohort of 75 surgical retinal specimens, the density of CD160+ microvessels was evaluated, along with immunolabeling on serial sections against ERG (pan-endothelial cell marker), CD105 (activated endothelial cell marker), and α-SMA (pericyte cell marker). The cohort was divided into two groups: 29 patients with neovascular disease (NV+) and 46 control patients (NV-).
Results:
CD160 was physiologically expressed by several cell types: endothelial cells of retinal blood vessels, ganglion cells, macrophages, epithelial cells of the conjunctiva, ciliary body, and retinal pigment epithelium. In the patient cohort, the percentage of CD160+ vessels in the retina was significantly and independently higher in patients suffering from neovascular diseases (P = 0.04). On the contrary, the expression of CD105 was correlated neither with retinal neovascular diseases, nor with CD160 expression.
Conclusions:
CD160 was expressed in some retinal vessels in both normal and pathologic eyes. CD160 expression by endothelial cells of retinal vessels was correlated with ocular neovascular diseases. CD160 could therefore represent an interesting target for novel anti-angiogenic therapies.
Insights
CD160 is expressed in retinal vessels and correlates with ocular neovascular diseases. This finding suggests CD160 as a potential target for new anti-angiogenic therapies in treating these conditions.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Vascular Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Anti-angiogenic agents are crucial for treating retinal neovascular diseases.
- CD160 is identified as a marker of activated endothelial cells, indicating its potential as a therapeutic target.
- Understanding CD160 distribution in the eye is key to developing novel anti-angiogenic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distribution of CD160 in the human eye.
- To explore the correlation between CD160 expression and retinal neovascular diseases.
- To assess CD160 as a potential therapeutic target for anti-angiogenic therapies.
Main Methods:
- Immunolabeling was used to assess CD160 distribution in 10 normal human donor eyes.
- A retrospective cohort of 75 surgical retinal specimens was analyzed.
- CD160+ microvessel density was evaluated and compared with markers like ERG, CD105, and α-SMA in neovascular disease (NV+) and control (NV-) groups.
Main Results:
- CD160 expression was observed in endothelial cells of retinal blood vessels, ganglion cells, macrophages, and other ocular tissues.
- A significantly higher percentage of CD160+ vessels was found in the retinas of patients with neovascular diseases (P = 0.04).
- CD105 expression did not correlate with retinal neovascular diseases or CD160 expression.
Conclusions:
- CD160 is expressed in retinal vessels in both normal and pathological conditions.
- CD160 expression by retinal vascular endothelial cells is correlated with ocular neovascular diseases.
- CD160 presents a promising target for developing novel anti-angiogenic therapies.
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