Melatonin Inhibits VEGF-Induced Endothelial Progenitor Cell Angiogenesis in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

ABSTRACT: Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is described as abnormal angiogenesis in the retina and the leaking of fluid and blood that generates a huge, dark, blind spot in the center of the visual field, causing severe vision loss in over 90% of patients. Bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) contribute to pathologic angiogenesis. Gene expression profiles downloaded from the eyeIntegration v1.0 database for healthy retinas and retinas from patients with neovascular AMD identified significantly higher levels of EPC-specific markers (CD34, CD133) and blood vessel markers (CD31, VEGF) in the neovascular AMD retinas compared with healthy retinas. Melatonin is a hormone that is mainly secreted by the pineal gland, and is also produced in the retina. Whether melatonin

SUBMITTER: Lin LW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10000467 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature