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  • Nanosecond laser therapy reverses pathologic and molecular changes in age-related macular degeneration without retinal damage.

Nanosecond laser therapy reverses pathologic and molecular changes in age-related macular degeneration without retinal damage.

FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (2014-11-14)
A I Jobling, R H Guymer, K A Vessey, U Greferath, S A Mills, K H Brassington, C D Luu, K Z Aung, L Trogrlic, M Plunkett, E L Fletcher
ABSTRACT

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss, characterized by drusen deposits and thickened Bruch's membrane (BM). This study details the capacity of nanosecond laser treatment to reduce drusen and thin BM while maintaining retinal structure. Fifty patients with AMD had a single nanosecond laser treatment session and after 2 yr, change in drusen area was compared with an untreated cohort of patients. The retinal effect of the laser was determined in human and mouse eyes using immunohistochemistry and compared with untreated eyes. In a mouse with thickened BM (ApoEnull), the effect of laser treatment was quantified using electron microscopy and quantitative PCR. In patients with AMD, nanosecond laser treatment reduced drusen load at 2 yr. Retinal structure was not compromised in human and mouse retina after laser treatment, with only a discrete retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) injury, and limited mononuclear cell response observed. BM was thinned in the ApoEnull mouse 3 mo after treatment (ApoEnull treated 683 ± 38 nm, ApoEnull untreated 890 ± 60 nm, C57Bl6J 606 ± 43 nm), with the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -3 increased (>260%). Nanosecond laser resolved drusen independent of retinal damage and improved BM structure, suggesting this treatment has the potential to reduce AMD progression.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Xylazine, ≥99%
Sigma-Aldrich
β-D-Allose, rare aldohexose sugar
Sigma-Aldrich
Atropine sulfate salt monohydrate, ≥97% (TLC), crystalline
Sigma-Aldrich
DAPI, for nucleic acid staining
Supelco
Atropine Sulfate, Pharmaceutical Secondary Standard; Certified Reference Material
USP
Atropine sulfate, United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Reference Standard
Atropine sulfate, European Pharmacopoeia (EP) Reference Standard