Deletion of Endothelial Transforming Growth Factor-ß Signaling Leads to Choroidal Neovascularization.
Am J Pathol
; 187(11): 2570-2589, 2017 Nov.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28823871
ABSTRACT
The molecular pathogenesis of choroidal neovascularization (CNV), an angiogenic process that critically contributes to vision loss in age-related macular degeneration, is unclear. Herein, we analyzed the role of transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß signaling for CNV formation by generating a series of mutant mouse models with induced conditional deletion of TGF-ß signaling in the entire eye, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), or the vascular endothelium. Deletion of TGF-ß signaling in the eye caused CNV, irrespectively if it was ablated in newborn or 3-week-old mice. Areas of CNV showed photoreceptor degeneration, multilayered RPE, basal lamina deposits, and accumulations of monocytes/macrophages. The changes progressed, leading to marked structural and functional alterations of the retina. Although the specific deletion of TGF-ß signaling in the RPE caused no obvious changes, specific deletion in vascular endothelial cells caused CNV and a phenotype similar to that observed after the deletion in the entire eye. We conclude that impairment of TGF-ß signaling in the vascular endothelium of the eye is sufficient to trigger CNV formation. Our findings highlight the importance of TGF-ß signaling as a key player in the development of ocular neovascularization and indicate a fundamental role of TGF-ß signaling in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Transdução de Sinais
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Fator de Crescimento Transformador beta
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Neovascularização de Coroide
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Epitélio Pigmentado da Retina
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Degeneração Macular
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2017
Tipo de documento:
Article