Premium
Serum autoantibody profile of patients with age‐related macular degeneration
Author(s) -
Morohoshi Kei,
Patel Nishal,
Aye Cho Cho,
Ohbayashi Masaharu,
Ono Santa Jeremy
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.668.30
Subject(s) - autoantibody , pathogenesis , antigen , macular degeneration , immunology , medicine , antibody , disease , autoimmunity , ophthalmology
Age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in industrial countries. Recent findings indicate that both genetic and immunological factors are involved in the pathogenesis of AMD. Autoantibodies in particular have been implicated in AMD pathogenesis, yet only a few antibodies have been identified in sera from patients with AMD. In order to reveal an autoantibody profile for AMD and identify biomarkers for progression of this disease, we incubated an antigen microarray with serum samples from patients with AMD and healthy controls. Sera from the AMD group contained high levels of IgG autoantibodies to some antigens including cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase and proliferating cell nuclear antigen, when compared to the normal group. Moreover, the IgG/IgM ratio for antibodies to some systemic antigens correlated with the stage of AMD. Our data suggest that these IgG autoantibodies and the ratio may be used as biomarkers for AMD. Further studies are needed to clarify whether the autoantibodies directly cause AMD or are secondary products in the progression of AMD. This work is supported by the Dobbs Foundation, Special Trustees of Moorfields Eye Hospital and the NIH.