[The effect of interferon-beta on experimental choroidal neovascularization]

We studied histologically the effect of systemic administration of human interferon-beta (IFN-beta) on experimental choroidal neovascularization which was caused by intensive laser photocoagulation at the posterior pole of monkey eyes. The regression of choroidal neovascularization was observed in IFN-treated monkeys. Histologically, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) was remarkably abundant around choroidal neovascularization in the subretinal space, and the activity of neovascularization was weaker in IFN-treated monkeys than in untreated monkeys. These results indicate that IFN-beta promotes the proliferation of RPE and suppresses the activity of endothelial cells of neovascularization to cause regression of choroidal neovascularization. The results suggest that IFN-beta is clinically useful to treat the choroidal neovascularization of age-related macular degeneration.