title: Behaviour of CD11b-Positive Cells in an Animal Model of Laser-Induced Choroidal Neovascularisation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Immune cells, e.g. microglial cells of the retina, appear to be involved in pathological processes in neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to immunohistochemically check the expression of various factors and cytokines by CD11b-positive (CD11b+) immune cells in an animal model of choroidal neovascularisation (CNV).
  
  
  METHODS
  We used the animal model of laser-induced CNV in mice. Eyes were isolated at 1, 4, 7, and 14 days after laser treatment. Cryosections were prepared and checked immunohistochemically for the presence of different growth factors and cytokines on microglial cells and other immune cells identified by CD11b immunoreactivity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that the number of CD11b+ cells at the laser spots increased dramatically 4 days after laser treatment, the majority of them entering the laser spot most probably by migration. CD11b+ cells in the laser spot were positive for a variety of pro-angiogenic factors, such as PDGF-β, FGF-1, FGF-2, and TGF-β1. They were also positive for some inflammatory cytokines, in particular TNF-α, IL-6, and CXCL1. In non-treated retinas, CD11b+ cells showed almost no immunoreactivity for these proteins.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Microglial cells, macrophages, and other CD11b+ cells may promote the neovascularisation in the laser spot and show a moderate inflammatory behaviour. Immunoreactivity for most of these molecules was found to decrease during the time of observation. Modulation of immune cell activity may thus be a tool to reduce the extent of CNV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Münster Medical School, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Heiduschka
authors.forename: Anne F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Alex
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Niekämper
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Eter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D039481:CD11b Antigen / Q000276:immunology*; D002465:Cell Movement; D002829:Choroid / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007834:Lasers / Q000009:adverse effects; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D017628:Microglia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D039481:CD11b Antigen