The effect of complement depletion with humanized cobra venom factor (CVF) on retinal lesion development/neovascularization was determined in a mouse model of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Mice were treated with the humanized CVF protein HC3-1496 prior to, and once daily for 28 days after laser coagulation surgery of the retina. CVF transgenic mice exhibiting permanently low levels of serum complement activity and PBS-treated mice served as positive and negative controls, respectively. Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran funduscopy after laser surgery indicated the presence of lesions in all mice that underwent laser surgery. In HC3-1496-treated mice as well as CVF transgenic mice smaller lesions were seen after 8 days. Measurement of lesion sizes by histopathological examination of eyes after 28 days revealed a significant reduction of lesion area and volume in both HC3-1496-treated animals and CVF transgenic animals compared to PBS-treated control animals. Systemic complement depletion with a complement depletor, such as the humanized CVF protein HC3-1496, represents a promising therapeutic concept for patients with wet AMD.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5635-4_11 | DOI Listing |
Nat Rev Rheumatol
January 2025
Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
B cell depletion with rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody that selectively targets B cells by binding CD20, has been used off label in severe and resistant systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) for over two decades. Several biological mechanisms limit the efficacy of rituximab, including immunological reactions towards the chimeric molecule, increased numbers of residual B cells, including plasmablasts and plasma cells, and a post-treatment surge in B cell-activating factor (BAFF) levels. Consequently, rituximab induces remission in only a proportion of patients, and safety issues limit its use.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Microsc
January 2025
Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Experimental Center, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
Ribosomes, discovered in 1955 by George Palade, were initially described as small cytoplasmic particles preferentially associated with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Over the years, extensive research has focused on both the structure and function of ribosomes. However, a fundamental question - how many ribosomes are present within whole cells - has remained largely unaddressed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFbioRxiv
December 2024
Marc and Jennifer Lipschultz Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) are organized immune cell aggregates that arise in chronic inflammatory conditions. In cancer, TLS are associated with better prognosis and enhanced response to immunotherapy, making these structures attractive therapeutic targets. However, the mechanisms regulating TLS formation and maintenance in cancer are incompletely understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiochemistry
January 2025
Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-8101, United States.
Metal ions are essential for all life. In microbial cells, potassium (K) is the most abundant cation and plays a key role in maintaining osmotic balance. Magnesium (Mg) is the dominant divalent cation and is required for nucleic acid structure and as an enzyme cofactor.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
December 2024
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Toho University School of Medicine, 6-11-1 Omori-Nishi, Ota-ku, Tokyo, 143-8541, Japan.
Altered gut microbiota is linked to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but its association with disease development, disease activity, and post-intervention changes remains unclear. We compared new-onset SLE (NOSLE, n = 25), SLE in remission (RemSLE, n = 30), and healthy controls (HC, n = 30) cross-sectionally and conducted the first longitudinal analysis of NOSLE patients (n = 22) from pre-intervention to remission over 12 months. Significant β-diversity differences were observed in both NOSLE and RemSLE compared to HC, but not between NOSLE and RemSLE.
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