CD11b and CD200 on Circulating Monocytes Differentiate Two Angiographic Subtypes of Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy

• Published in: Investigative ophthalmology & visual science Vol. 58; no. 12; pp. 5242 - 5250
• Main Authors: Subhi, Yousif, Krogh Nielsen, Marie, Molbech, Christopher Rue, Oishi, Akio, Singh, Amardeep, Nissen, Mogens Holst, Sørensen, Torben Lykke
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.10.2017
• Subjects: Aged; Antigens, CD - metabolism; Biomarkers - metabolism; Blood; Case-Control Studies; CD11b Antigen - metabolism; Choroidal Neovascularization - blood; Choroidal Neovascularization - diagnosis; Clinical Medicine; Coloring Agents - administration & dosage; Female; Flow Cytometry; Fluorescein Angiography; Humans; Immunology; Indocyanine Green - administration & dosage; Klinisk medicin; Macular Degeneration - blood; Macular Degeneration - diagnosis; Male; Medical and Health Sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Microglia; Monocytes; Monocytes - metabolism; Oftalmologi; Ophthalmology; Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy; Polyps - blood; Polyps - diagnosis; Prospective Studies
• ISSN: 1552-5783; 0146-0404; 1552-5783
• DOI: 10.1167/iovs.17-22479

To investigate surface expression of CD11b and CD200 on circulating monocytes in patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). This was a prospective case-control study of patients with PCV (n = 27), age-matched healthy controls (n = 27), and patients with neovascular AMD (n = 49). All participants underwent a comprehensive ocular examination. Fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography were performed in patients suspected of neovascular AMD or PCV. Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy was angiographically categorized into those with a strong presence of a branching vascular network (BVN) (type 1) or with a faint/no clear presence of a BVN (type 2). Fresh venous blood was stained with fluorescent antibodies for flow cytometric analyses. We compared the percentages of CD11b+, CD200+, and CD11b+CD200+ monocytes between groups of diagnosis and between different angiographic subtypes of PCV. Overall, CD11b+ monocytes were both increased in patients with PCV and neovascular AMD. CD200+ and CD11b+CD200+ monocytes were increased in patients with neovascular AMD. An age-related increase in CD11b+CD200+ monocytes was absent in patients with PCV and neovascular AMD. Patients with PCV type 1 had significantly higher CD11b+, CD200+, and CD11b+CD200+ monocytes, whereas patients with PCV type 2 had levels similar to that in healthy controls. We found that PCV is immunologically heterogeneous with significant differences between angiographic subtypes. Increased CD11b+ and CD200+ monocytes in those with a strong presence of BVN indicate that BVN development may be associated with retinal injury and a VEGF-mediated process that is either reflected or propelled by systemic changes in monocytes.