Adrenomedullin-RAMP2 system ameliorates subretinal fibrosis by suppressing epithelial-mesenchymal transition in age-related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of visual impairment. Anti-VEGF drugs are used to treat AMD, but they may induce subretinal fibrosis. We have focused on adrenomedullin (AM), a vasoactive peptide, and its receptor activity-modifying protein, RAMP2, which regulate vascular homeostasis and suppress fibrosis. Here, the therapeutic potential of the AM-RAMP2 system was evaluated after laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (LI-CNV), a mouse model of AMD. Neovascular formation, subretinal fibrosis and macrophage invasion were all enhanced in both AM and RAMP2 knockout (KO) mice as compared to wild-type (WT) mice.

Source: American Journal of Pathology - December 29, 2020 Category: Pathology Authors: Masaaki Tanaka, Shinji Kakihara, Kazutaka Hirabayashi, Akira Imai, Yuichi Toriyama, Yasuhiro Iesato, Takayuki Sakurai, Akiko Kamiyoshi, Yuka Ichikawa-Shindo, Hisaka Kawate, Megumu Tanaka, Nanqi Cui, Yangxuan Wei, Yunlu Zhao, Kohsuke Aruga, Akihiro Yamauch Source Type: research