Structure-Guided Molecular Engineering of a Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Antagonist to Treat Retinal Diseases.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Ocular neovascularization is a hallmark of retinal diseases including neovascular age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, two leading causes of blindness in adults. Neovascularization is driven by the interaction of soluble vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) ligands with transmembrane VEGF receptors (VEGFR), and inhibition of the VEGF pathway has shown tremendous clinical promise. However, anti-VEGF therapies require invasive intravitreal injections at frequent intervals and high doses, and many patients show incomplete responses to current drugs due to the lack of sustained VEGF signaling suppression.

Methods

We synthesized insights from structural biology with molecular engineering technologies to engineer an anti-VEGF antagonist protei

SUBMITTER: Kureshi R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7596137 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature