This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator.
Our specific aim was to use an established primate model of proliferative diabetic retinopathy to study the potential therapeutic effect of an ?SDF-1 antibody treatment in juvenile rhesus macaques. We tested the safety and efficacy of a novel antibody based therapy designed to block proliferative retinopathy. We adapted previously described rhesus monkey models to closely mimic the murine model of proliferative retinopathy we had used in previous studies. The outline of the basic experiment is depicted below. We have currently completed the sectioning of the majority of the harvested eyes. Preliminary examination of H&E stained sections demonstrates the following: 1) The combination of VEGF expression and laser photocoagulation of blood vessels induced robust neovascularization within the retina of the Group B positive control animals. 2) Anti-SDF-1 antibody injection effectively blocked the neovascularization induced by VEGF and laser photocoagulation. 3) Injection of the anti-SDF-1 antibody alone had no deleterious effect upon the morphology of the retina indicating no overt toxicity for the treatment. 4) All CBC and FACS panels of the blood indicate no abnormal systemic responses to the therapy. 5) Preliminary observations at autopsy revealed no overt detrimental effects of the therapy. All of the animals appeared healthy. 6) It is expected that review of the final necropsy reports will confirm these initial observations. 7) We will finish the complete sectioning and analysis of the 10 eyes harvested in the study. This will result in the generation of well over 10,000 sections to be examined and documented. All preliminary data suggests that the anti-SDF-1 antibody therapy safely and successfully blocked proliferative retinopathy in the rhesus model.
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