Monocyte activation in patients with age-related macular degeneration: a biomarker of risk for choroidal neovascularization?
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the activation state of macrophage function in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by quantifying the production of the proinflammatory and angiogenic factor tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and by correlating its expression with dry and wet AMD. METHODS: Circulating monocytes were obtained from the blood of patients with AMD or age-matched control subjects by gradient centrifugation. The monocytes were then analyzed for either TNF-alpha release from cultured macrophages in response to retinal pigment epithelium-derived blebs and cytokines or TNF-alpha messenger RNA content by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: In human monocytes obtained from controls and AMD patients, TNF-alpha was expressed by freshly isolated monocytes and produced by macrophages in culture after stimulation with retinal pigment epithelium-derived blebs. However, wide variability in TNF-alpha expression was observed among different patients. Patients with monocytes that expressed the greatest amount of TNF-alpha demonstrated higher prevalence of choroidal neovascularization. CONCLUSIONS: Both controls and AMD patients vary in the activation state (defined as TNF-alpha expression) of circulating monocytes. Partially active monocytes, defined as high TNF-alpha expression, may be a biomarker to identify patients at risk for formation of choroidal neovascularization. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Early diagnostic testing may prove useful to detect those patients who will progress to the more severe complications of the disease.
Duke Scholars
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- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
- Risk Factors
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- RNA, Messenger
- Ophthalmology & Optometry
- Monocytes
- Middle Aged
- Male
- Macular Degeneration
- Macrophages
Citation
Published In
DOI
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
- Risk Factors
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- RNA, Messenger
- Ophthalmology & Optometry
- Monocytes
- Middle Aged
- Male
- Macular Degeneration
- Macrophages