Role of Fas-ligand in age-related maculopathy not established.

PURPOSE: Fas-ligand expression on retinal pigment epithelium is hypothesized to have an inhibitory effect on human ocular neovascularization. METHODS: We studied Fas-ligand expression in the aging retinal pigment epithelium and in early and late stages of age-related maculopathy. Immunohistochemistry with antibodies against Fas-ligand was performed on paraffin-embedded sections of 23 human eye bank eyes (aged 45 to 96 years) and 12 eyes with exudative age-related maculopathy. RESULTS: Fas-ligand expression in retinal pigment epithelium was not related to age or to the presence of early age-related maculopathy. Furthermore, Fas-ligand expression in retinal pigment epithelium was similar in subretinal and subretinal pigment epithelium choroidal neovascular membranes. CONCLUSION: It appears to be unlikely that Fas-ligand expressed on retinal pigment epithelium controls the extension of choroidal neovascular membranes from subretinal pigment epithelium to subretinal.