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This abstract is assigned to session FAB: Fluorescein Angiography Club Belgium

Title

FRO: Role of VEGF-isoforms in pathological retinal & choroidal angiogenesis

Purpose	The aim of this project was to study the specific role of the VEGF isoforms in pathological angiogenesis, and to investigate the effect of blocking a single isoform on the formation of choroidal neovascularization (CNV).
Methods	To study the in vivo role of the VEGF isoforms in pathological angiogenesis, VEGF isoform specific mice (VEGF 120/+, VEGF 164/164 and VEGF188/188 mice) were bred. After backcrossing these mice strains into a C75Bl/6 background CNV was induced by placing 3 green laser spots (100μm spot size, 0.05 sec spot duration and 400mW power) around the optic nerve. Quantification of the area of newly formed blood vessels was determined by retrobulbar dextran linked FITC-perfusion.
Results	Preliminary results showed that the area of neovascularization in the VEGF 120/+ and VEGF 164/164 mice was comparable to the wild type mice, whereas an inhibition in neovascularization was present in the VEGF188/188 isoform specific mice. For the moment, mice colonies are being enlarged to repeat experiments and subsequently, these mice are intercrossed to obtain double transgenic mice. Furthermore, retinal angiogenesis will also be checked using the ROP model.
Conclusion	VEGF164 and VEGF120 seems to play an important role in the process of pathological neovascularization, whereas VEGF188 not. These new insights in the role of different VEGF isoforms may improve the efficacy of the currently existing anti-VEGF therapy (that differ in their specificity for the different VEGF isoforms). This can open new perspectives for patients with vision threatening eye diseases and may have important therapeutic implications for them.

Author 1

Last name	VAN DE VEIRE
Initials	S
Department	KUL (Oogziekten)
City	Leuven

Author 2

Last name	VAN BERGEN
Initials	T
Department	KUL (Oogziekten)
City	Leuven

Author 3

Last name	MOONS
Initials	I
Department	KUL (Biologie)
City	Leuven

Author 4

Last name	CARMELIET
Initials	P
Department	VRC-VIB
City	Leuven

Author 5

Last name	STALMANS
Initials	I
Department	KUL (Oogziekten)
City	Leuven