Osteopontin Regulation of Choroidal Neovascular Fibrosis through Macrophages
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 years of age and older. It occurs in two forms: wet and dry. Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels behind the retina start to grow under the macula - the part of the retina that allows people to see in small detail -- often causing the leaking of blood and other fluid. This causes rapid damage. Dr. Malek's research seeks to determine how macrophages - white blood cells that removes foreign materials and which are present in the membranes and retina of patients with wet AMD -- contribute to the severity of new vessel growth. Her research will focus on the protein osteopontin, a regulator of inflammation in the eye, and how it might serve as a signal attracting and retaining macrophages to the site of injury in the eye. If validated, Dr. Malek's research could provide a potential therapeutic target for wet AMD.
