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This abstract is assigned to session SBO-BOG free papers: Medische retina en Uveïtis/ Rétine médicale et uvéite

Title	Placental growth factor (PlGF) inhibition reduces choroidal neovascularization in a mouse model for age-related macular degeneration (ARMD)
Abstract Nr.	144

Purpose	To evaluate whether and through which mechanism PlGF blockage can inhibit choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in a mouse model of age-related macular degeneration.
Methods	CNV was induced in mice by placing 3 Argon laser burns on the choroid. In a first experiment we compared CNV formation between PlGF knock-out and wild type mice. Secondly, 144 wild-type mice were injected every 2 days with 5, 10, 20 or 40 mg/kg of either an anti-PlGF-antibody, an anti-VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR2) antibody or an irrelevant control antibody. The CNV lesions were evaluated on histological cross-sections. The amount of endothelial cells, pericytes and inflammatory cells in the lesions were morphometrically analyzed after immunostaining for CD31, smooth muscle alpha-actin and F4/80 respectively.
Results	CNV formation was significantly reduced in the PlGF knockout mice. The dose-response experiment showed that the 20 mg/kg dose of anti-PlGF significantly reduced the number of vessels in the lesions as compared to control antibody (p= 0.045), although less than a comparable dose of anti-VEGFR2-antibody (p= 0.027). Moreover, smooth muscle cell coverage was significantly increased in the anti-PlGF treated (p= 0.02) and reduced in the anti-VEGFR2 treated mice (p= 0.51) as compared to control mice. Finally, a significant reduction in number of inflammatory cells was observed in the lesions treated with anti-PlGF treated (p= 0.01) but not in the anti-VEGFR-2 treated mice (p= 0.30).
Conclusion	Anti-PlGF treatment inhibits CNV formation in a mouse model for ARMD. Both anti-PlGF and anti-VEGFR2 impair capillary growth, but in contrary to VEGFR2 blockage, anti-PlGF also reduces inflammation and promotes vessel maturation.

Author 1

Last name	VAN DE VEIRE
Initials	S
Department	KULeuven
City	Leuven

Author 2

Last name	Moons
Initials	L
Department	KULeuven
City	Leuven

Author 3

Last name	Vinores
Initials	S
Department	KULeuven
City	Leuven

Author 4

Last name	Carmeliet
Initials	P
Department	KULeuven
City	Leuven

Author 5

Last name	Stalmans
Initials	I
Department	KULeuven
City	Leuven