CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in its neovascular form is the leading cause of vision loss among adults above the age of 55. In the present study, we validate an established procedure for induction of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in mice. This procedure consists in the perforation of Bruch?s membrane by laser-induced photocoagulation, mimicking neovascular form of AMD. Thus, this study was performed in this model, in order to characterize the neovascular process and its impact on the retinal functionality and the inflammatory profile. Due to, we previously demonstrated that α2M, and its receptor (LRP1) participate during retinal NV we also focalized in the participation of α2M/LRP1 system.C57BL/6 mice, 3?6 months of age, previously anesthetized were treated with four spots of argon green laser photocoagulation per eye. After 7 days of laser burn, we analyzed the NV on choroid?RPE flatmounts by isolectin B4 staining using confocal microscopy. At the same time, using specific cell markers we characterize cells in the lesion area: CD105 (ECs), NG2 (pericytes), F4/80 (microglia) by immunostaining, as wells as LRP1 cell distribution. In addition, the protein levels of α2M and LRP1 were analyzed by WB and the inflammatory profile, as IL1β, IL6, and TNFα using qPCR assay. The retinal functionality was assessed by scotopic ERG. We had able to standardize the size of the lesion. An important number of ECs and pericyte was observed around the lesion. Microglia was localized in central and peripheral area of the lesion. While α2M and LRP1 showed increase protein level and high expression pattern on cells close to the lesion. Accompanied with high pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic factors. The scotopic ERG a- and b-wave were decreased (p