title: Immunohistochemical and histochemical properties of surgically excised subretinal neovascular membranes in age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: The immunohistochemical and histochemical properties of 16 surgically excised subretinal neovascular membranes from 16 patients with age-related macular degeneration were studied. Primary antisera to c-retinaldehyde-binding protein; leukocyte common antigen; factor VIII-related antigen; S-100 protein; glial fibrillary acid protein; muscle-specific actin; neuron-specific enolase; collagen types I, II, III, IV, and V; laminin; and fibronectin were used for immunohistochemical characterization of the membranes. Histochemical staining for lipid and mucopolysaccharide was performed. The results of the staining in conjunction with histologic examination showed the cellular components of the membranes to be composed of retinal pigment epithelium, inflammatory cells, vascular endothelium, glial cells, myofibroblasts, photoreceptor cells, and fibrocytes. The extracellular matrix of the membranes contained collagen types I, III, IV, and V; fibronectin; laminin; mucopolysaccharide; and lipid. These findings are consistent with the concept that subretinal neovascular membranes in age-related macular degeneration are composed of localized intra-Bruch's membrane granulation tissue proliferation associated with diffuse drusen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Grossniklaus
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: V B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sternberg
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Capone
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Aaberg
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Lopez
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens