Inhibition of choroidal neovascularization in rats by the urokinase-derived peptide A6.

Purpose: To evaluate the inhibitory effects of a urokinase-derived octapeptide A6 on laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV).

Methods: In the first arm of the study, subcutaneous injection of A6 (200 mg/kg per day) into the right eyes in 20 rats and phosphate-buffered saline in 20 control rats was started 1 day before laser injury. Angiography was performed at week 2. To evaluate the dose response, a second arm of the study was performed in the left eyes. Half of the treatment group was treated with 400 mg/kg per day, and the remaining half continued to receive 200 mg/kg per day beginning on week 4. Laser injury was made at week 5 and angiography was performed at week 7. Angiographic evaluation, histopathologic evaluation including maximum CNV thickness and factor-VIII-stained endothelium counting were performed in the second arm of the study. Choroidal concentrations of A6 were measured.

Results: In the first arm of the study, angiography showed a 40.8% reduction in CNV in the 200-mg/kg per day treatment group, compared with the control (P = 0.0008). In the second arm of the study, angiographic reduction in CNV was 37.9% in the 200-mg/kg per day group (P = 0.0314) and 70.0% in the 400-mg/kg per day group (P = 0.0124), compared with the control. CNV was significantly less in the 400-mg/kg per day group than in the 200-mg/kg per day group (P = 0.0393). Both CNV thickness and number of endothelial cells were reduced in a dose-dependent manner and significantly less than in the control (P < 0.05). Mean choroidal concentration of A6 2 hours after injection was 0.72 micro M in the 200-mg/kg per day (100 mg/kg every 12 hours) and 1.75 micro M in the 400-mg/kg per day (200 mg/kg every 12 hours) treatment groups. Levels at 11 hours after injections were undetectable.

Conclusions: A6 demonstrated antiangiogenic properties in a rat model of CNV and may be useful in the treatment of CNV.