title: Intravitreal human complement factor H in a rat model of laser-induced choroidal neovascularisation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the inhibitory effect of intravitreally administered human complement factor H (CFH) in a rat model of laser-induced choroidal neovascularisation (CNV).
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of alternative pathway inhibition by human plasma-purified CFH was conducted by measuring C3 deposition on zymosan particles using rat serum. CNV was induced by laser photocoagulation on Day 0 in the eyes of Brown Norway rats. Human plasma-purified CFH (50 μg/2 μl) or phosphate buffered saline was injected intravitreally on Day 0 (prevention arm) or Day 7 (treatment arm). Seven days after injection, eyes were enucleated and retinal pigment epithelium-choroid-sclera flat mounts were prepared. Areas of CNV were determined in flat mounts and quantified using an image analysis programme. Flat mounts were also stained for membrane attack complex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In rat serum, human CFH inhibited activity of alternative pathway in a dose-dependent manner. On Day 3, mean membrane attack complex deposition in laser-treated retina significantly decreased in CFH-treated eyes (p<0.001). In the prevention arm, the mean CNV area in CFH-treated eyes decreased by 27.0% compared with phosphate buffered saline-treated control eyes on Day 7 (p=0.011). In the treatment arm, the mean CNV area in CFH-treated eyes decreased by 38.3% compared with control eyes on Day 14 (p=0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intravitreal injection of human CFH resulted in the suppression of formation of new, and regression of preformed laser-induced CNV in the rat model. Human CFH may be a feasible treatment for CNV associated with age-related macular degeneration or other causes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jaeryung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jinyoung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung Yoon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Hee Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Ki-Yong
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dong-Kyu
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D017242:Complement Factor H / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051056:Complement Inactivating Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D007834:Lasers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D051056:Complement Inactivating Agents; D017242:Complement Factor H