title: Serum autoantibody biomarkers for age-related macular degeneration and possible regulators of neovascularization.
abstract: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in industrial counties. Its pathogenesis is at least partially mediated by immunological factors, including a possible autoimmune response. To date, only a few antibodies have been identified in sera from patients with AMD. In order to reveal an autoantibody profile for AMD and identify biomarkers for progression of this disease, we have performed an antigen microarray analysis of serum samples from patients with AMD and healthy controls. Sera from the AMD groups contained high levels of IgG and IgM autoantibodies to some systemic antigens when compared to the normal group. Targeted antigens included cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, phosphatidylserine (PS) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen. The IgG/IgM ratio for antibodies to PS was notably elevated in the AMD group compared to the normal group, and this ratio correlated best with the stage of AMD patients with an anti-PS ratio greater than the cut-off value had a 44-fold risk for advanced AMD with choroidal neovascularization. PS immunoreactivity was also elevated in AMD retina. Moreover, IgG autoantibodies purified from sera of AMD patients induced more tube formation on choroidal-retinal endothelial cells compared to those of healthy donors. Hence, sera from patients with AMD contain specific autoantibodies which may be used as biomarkers for AMD, and the IgG/M ratio for autoantibodies to PS might allow better monitoring of AMD progression.
authors: Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors: Kei
authors: K
authors: Morohoshi
authors: Nishal
authors: N
authors: Patel
authors: Masaharu
authors: M
authors: Ohbayashi
authors: Victor
authors: V
authors: Chong
authors: Hans E
authors: HE
authors: Grossniklaus
authors: Alan C
authors: AC
authors: Bird
authors: Santa J
authors: SJ
authors: Ono
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D018450:Disease Progression; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000276:immunology*; D040081:Protein Array Analysis; D012160:Retina / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000276:immunology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D015415:Biomarkers; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D010718:Phosphatidylserines