title: CD93 as a Potential Target in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration.
abstract: In patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), choroidal neovascularization is the major cause of severe visual loss. In these patients, the persistence of neovascular growth despite vascular endothelial growth factor-A blockage needs the discovery of new endothelial cell targets. The glycoprotein CD93, highly expressed in activated endothelial cells, has been recently involved in the regulation of the angiogenic process both as transmembrane and soluble protein. Choroidal neovascular membranes from patients affected by AMD were examined by immunofluorescence using anti-CD93 and anti-von Willebrand factor antibodies. Blood vessels within intraocular and extraocular neoplasias were used as controls for CD93 expression. All choroidal neovascular membranes displayed strong CD93 staining in the von Willebrand factor-positive endothelial cells, consistently with the analyses showing a high colocalization coefficient in the blood vessels. Intraocular and extraocular tumor vessels showed similar results, whereas the normal choroid displayed blood vessels with only faint CD93 staining. Additionally, the concentration of soluble CD93 was determined in the aqueous humor of patients affected by naïve neovascular AMD by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Age-matched cataract patients served as controls. Soluble CD93 was significantly increased in the aqueous humor of naïve neovascular AMD patients and tended to decrease after treatment with an antiangiogenic drug. In conclusion, both transmembrane and soluble CD93 are overexpressed in patients with neovascular AMD, indicating that CD93 may represent a potential new antiangiogenic target in the treatment of choroidal neovascularization. J. Cell. Physiol. 232: 1767-1773, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Unit of the Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Gian Marco
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Tosi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caldi
authors.affiliation: Vitreoretinal Unit, Sant'Anna Hospital, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Parolini
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Toti
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Unit of the Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nardi
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Unit of the Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Traversi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cevenini
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Unit of the Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marigliani
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Unit of the Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nuti
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Unit of the Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bacci
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Galvagni
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orlandini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011951:Receptors, Complement / Q000378:metabolism*; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011951:Receptors, Complement; C032402:complement 1q receptor