Role of Fas-ligand in age-related maculopathy not established.
OBJECTIVE
Fas-ligand expression on retinal pigment epithelium is hypothesized to have an inhibitory effect on human ocular neovascularization.


METHODS
We studied Fas-ligand expression in the aging retinal pigment epithelium and in early and late stages of age-related maculopathy. Immunohistochemistry with antibodies against Fas-ligand was performed on paraffin-embedded sections of 23 human eye bank eyes (aged 45 to 96 years) and 12 eyes with exudative age-related maculopathy.


RESULTS
Fas-ligand expression in retinal pigment epithelium was not related to age or to the presence of early age-related maculopathy. Furthermore, Fas-ligand expression in retinal pigment epithelium was similar in subretinal and subretinal pigment epithelium choroidal neovascular membranes.


CONCLUSIONS
It appears to be unlikely that Fas-ligand expressed on retinal pigment epithelium controls the extension of choroidal neovascular membranes from subretinal pigment epithelium to subretinal.
Lambooij
A C
AC
Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, PO Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands. lambooij@gen.fgg.eur.nl
Kliffen
M
M
Mooy
C M
CM
Kuijpers
R W
RW
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000378:metabolism*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000378:metabolism*; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism
C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019014:fas Receptor