1. Semaphorin 3F forms an anti-angiogenic barrier in outer retina
- Author
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Felicitas Bucher, Stefanie Berger, Andreas Stahl, Sandra Favret, Nicholas Sitaras, Aimee M. Juan, Michael Klagsbrun, Jean-Sebastian Joyal, Guenther Schlunck, Anima D Buehler, Przemyslaw Sapieha, Amelie Pielen, Hansjürgen Agostini, Gottfried Martin, and Lois E.H. Smith
- Subjects
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ,genetic structures ,Angiogenesis ,Retinal Pigment Epithelium ,AMD ,Biochemistry ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Mice ,0302 clinical medicine ,Structural Biology ,Cells, Cultured ,0303 health sciences ,Anatomy ,Cell biology ,Vascular endothelial growth factor A ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,RPE ,animal structures ,Retinal Photoreceptor Cell Outer Segment ,Biophysics ,Nerve Tissue Proteins ,Biology ,Retina ,Article ,03 medical and health sciences ,Semaphorin ,Spheroids, Cellular ,Angiostatic Proteins ,Genetics ,medicine ,Animals ,Humans ,Molecular Biology ,030304 developmental biology ,Retinal pigment epithelium ,Choroid ,Membrane Proteins ,Retinal Vessels ,Retinal ,Cell Biology ,eye diseases ,Mice, Inbred C57BL ,chemistry ,nervous system ,030221 ophthalmology & optometry ,Sema3F ,sense organs - Abstract
Semaphorins are known modulators of axonal sprouting and angiogenesis. In the retina, we identified a distinct and almost exclusive expression of Semaphorin 3F in the outer layers. Interestingly, these outer retinal layers are physiologically avascular. Using functional in vitro models, we report potent anti-angiogenic effects of Semaphorin 3F on both retinal and choroidal vessels. In addition, human retinal pigment epithelium isolates from patients with pathologic neovascularization of the outer retina displayed reduced Semaphorin 3F expression in 10 out of 15 patients. Combined, these results elucidate a functional role for Semaphorin 3F in the outer retina where it acts as a vasorepulsive cue to maintain physiologic avascularity.
- Published
- 2013