Macrophages Drive Neovascular Remodeling in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Project Summary

We are trying to understand what causes the severe form of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. This work is significant because patients with the severe form of the disease do not respond to available medications. Macrophages are cells in the body that fight off infection, but that, in some cases, can cause damage to tissues in the body. We are working to identify the subsets of macrophages in the body that drive the severe form of wet macular degeneration, which is also known as neovascular remodeling. Patients with neovascular remodeling have disease that is characterized by more complex blood vessel structure and scar tissue formation. Using models of new vessel formation, we will identify which subsets drive neovascular remodeling, and what molecule signals they produce to promote disease. We can this use this information to develop new medications that target these macrophage subsets and molecular signals, with the overall goal of improving vision and preventing blindness among patients with severe wet AMD.