title: The role of complement in ocular pathology.
abstract: Functionally active complement system and complement regulatory proteins are present in the normal human and rodent eye. Complement activation and its regulation by ocular complement regulatory proteins contribute to the pathology of various ocular diseases including keratitis, uveitis and age-related macular degeneration. Furthermore, a strong relationship between age-related macular degeneration and polymorphism in the genes of certain complement components/complement regulatory proteins is now well established. Recombinant forms of the naturally occurring complement regulatory proteins have been exploited in the animal models for treatment of these ocular diseases. It is hoped that in the future recombinant complement regulatory proteins will be used as novel therapeutic agents in the clinic for the treatment of keratitis, uveitis, and age-related macular degeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Jones Eye Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham, Mail slot 523, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA. nbora@uams.edu
authors.forename: Nalini S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Bora
authors.forename: Purushottam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jha
authors.forename: Puran S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Bora
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003167:Complement Activation / Q000502:physiology; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D003165:Complement System Proteins