Macrophages feel their age in macular degeneration
Martine J. Jager, Caroline C.W. Klaver
Martine J. Jager, Caroline C.W. Klaver
Published November 1, 2007
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2007;117(11):3182-3184. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI34070.
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Commentary

Macrophages feel their age in macular degeneration

Abstract

Macular degeneration, during which the posterior part of the eye known as the macula suffers from thinning, atrophy, and bleeding caused by abnormal angiogenesis (blood vessel formation), predominantly affects elderly adults and results in the loss of central vision. In this issue of the JCI, Kelly et al. investigate the regulation of innate immune cells, specifically macrophages, in ocular neovascularization following eye injury in mice (see the related article beginning on page 3421). They found that, as the mice aged, increased expression of IL-10 by senescent macrophages and changes in their expression of other cytokines altered the ability of these cells to restrain trauma-induced angiogenesis in the eye. These data provide insight into the effect of senescence on macrophage function and angiogenesis and have important implications for age-related diseases such as macular degeneration.

Authors

Martine J. Jager, Caroline C.W. Klaver

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Figure 1

Role of normal versus senescent macrophages in ocular neovascularization.

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Role of normal versus senescent macrophages in ocular neovascularization...
In this issue, Kelly et al. (7) report that following laser-induced injury of the retina, macrophage infiltration occurs in both young (<2 months) and old (>18 months) mice. However, this macrophage infiltration is associated with neovascularization in older mice only. RT-PCR analyses of macrophages isolated from the retinae of older mice revealed lower expression levels of TNF-α, FasL, and IL-6 than in macrophages in the retinae of younger mice. An increase in IL-10 expression was observed in the retinae of all mice, although baseline levels were higher in old mice. These data suggest that as the mice age, increased IL-10 expression and altered cytokine expression limits the ability of senescent macrophages to regulate injury-induced neovascularization in the eye. The authors’ findings provide insight into the role of macrophages during neovascularization in AMD.