Macrophages play an important role in the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In this study, the spatial and temporal changes and the polarization of macrophages in murine laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) were investigated, and the polarized M1 and M2 biomarkers in the aqueous humors of neovascular AMD (nAMD) patients were studied. Macrophages, the main infiltrating inflammatory cells in CNV lesions, were evidenced by a significant increase in F4/80 mRNA expression and by the infiltration of F4/80+ cells in the lesions and the vicinity of laser-induced CNV. The mRNA expressions of M1-related markers were dramatically upregulated in the early stage, while the M2-related markers were slightly upregulated in the middle stage and sustained until the late stage. The results of immunostaining showed a similar early-but-transient M1 pattern and a delayed-but-sustained M2 pattern in laser-induced CNV. In addition, a higher M2/M1 ratio was found in both the murine models (Arg-1/iNOS and CCL22/CXCL10) and the aqueous humors of nAMD patients (CCL22/CXCL10) than in the controls. Our results suggested that the dynamic patterns of M1 and M2 were different in both the experimental and clinical CNV. The M2 macrophages were predominant and may play a more important role in the development of CNV.

Low apolipoprotein A1/apolipoprotein B ratio in serum was associated with PDR in type 2 diabetic patients of long duration.

PURPOSE. LRP5, NDP, and TSPAN12 are known to be associated with familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR). In this study, a comprehensive mutation screening for the three genes was performed in patients with a clinical diagnosis of FEVR in Han Chinese.METHODS. Genomic DNA and clinical data were collected from 100 probands and their family members. Sanger sequencing was performed to screen for LRP5, NDP, and TSPAN12 mutations and phenotype-genotype correlation was analyzed.RESULTS. There were 23 causative mutations identified in 23 unrelated probands (10/23 in LRP5, 8/23 in TSPAN12, and 5/23 in NDP). Apart from NDP mutations, only two LRP5 mutations inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. Among the 23 causative mutations, 13 were novel variants (4/10 in LRP5, 6/8 in TSPAN12, and 3/5 in NDP). According to the modified classification system, statistical significance was observed in the distribution of mutated genes (P ¼ 0.049). None of the causative mutations was found in group I FEVR. Probands with LRP5 or NDP mutations were mainly categorized into group III and IV, TSPAN12 mutations were mainly observed in probands with group IV and V FEVR.CONCLUSIONS. The detection rate for mutations in the three known genes was 23%. Mutations in LRP5 and TSPAN12 were more frequent, accounting for 10% and 8%, respectively. The NDP mutations were only identified in 6% in this cohort. There were 13 novel variants found, which provided a deeper understanding of this disease. Potential phenotype-genotype correlation was observed in the modified system. TSPAN12 mutations might lead to the most severe phenotype.

Male patients with FEVR-RRD experience an earlier onset than females in our series. Retinal tears, even giant tears, could be responsible for FEVR-RRD. The fellow eyes of FEVR-RRD patients were characterized by predetachment changes, which need both lifelong monitoring and timely vision-saving intervention.