A chimeric Cfh transgene leads to increased retinal oxidative stress, inflammation, and accumulation of activated subretinal microglia in mice.

Purpose: Variants of complement factor H (Cfh) affecting short consensus repeats (SCRs) 6 to 8 increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration. Our aim was to explore the effect of expressing a Cfh variant on the in vivo susceptibility of the retina and RPE to oxidative stress and inflammation, using chimeric Cfh transgenic mice (chCfhTg).

Methods: The chCfhTg and age-matched C57BL/6J (B6) mice were subjected to oxidative stress by either normal aging, or by exposure to a combination of oral hydroquinone (0.

Elevated vascular endothelial growth factor level in Coats' disease and possible therapeutic role of bevacizumab.

Purpose: To compare intraocular vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level in patients with and without Coats' disease, and to report a case of Coats' disease that responded to intravitreal injection of bevacizumab.

Methods: Intraocular fluid was obtained from four eyes with Coats' disease (subretinal fluid in three eyes and aqueous in one eye) and from five eyes with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (subretinal fluid in four eyes and vitreous in one eye). Intraocular VEGF level was compared between these two groups.

Functional analysis of platelet-activating factor in the retinal pigment epithelial cells and choroidal endothelial cells.

Purpose: To investigate the function of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in cultured retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) and choroidal endothelial (CE) cells.

Methods: The in vitro and in vivo expression of PAF-receptors (PAF-R) on both these cells was determined. The production of PAF by RPE cells was also determined.