title: Immunohistological study of subretinal membranes in age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: An immunohistological study was performed on 6 specimens of subretinal membranes obtained surgically from patients suffering from age-related disciform macular degeneration. using immunoperoxidase procedures, we found in those membranes large amounts of IgG, IgA and IgE as well as C1q, C3c and C3d complement components diffusely distributed in the connective stroma and within the new blood vessel walls. Moreover, subretinal membranes contained numerous isolated HLA-DR- and -DQ-expressing cells, including glial, pigment epithelial and vascular endothelial cells. Monoclonal antibodies to immunocompetent cells disclosed only rare B and natural killer lymphocytes or suppressor-cytotoxic T cells, as well as some monocytes. These results show that immune phenomena are involved in proliferative changes associated with subretinal neovascularization. In addition, they suggest there are interactions between the immune system and peptide growth factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Saint-Roch Hospital, Nice, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baudouin
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Peyman
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fredj-Reygrobellet
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lapalus
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gastaud
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Bazan
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism*; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000378:metabolism*; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D003165:Complement System Proteins