(Updated 3/12/22) A substance in the body called Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is responsible for the growth of new blood vessels. It promotes this growth by stimulating the endothelial cells, which form the walls of the vessels and transport nutrients and oxygen to the tissues. Evidence shows that when the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) [Read More]
Tag: VEGF
Robo-4 and Slit2 May Team Up Against Wet AMD
by Dan Roberts March 17, 2008 “Robo-4” sounds like a movie by Arnold Schwarzenegger, but in this case, it is a link to another potential treatment for wet AMD. Short for “Roundabout,” Robo-4 is a protein receptor found on the surface of blood vessel cells. When it binds with another protein called Slit2, the combination [Read More]
Bacterial Infection Linked to AMD
by Dan Roberts (Updated November 13, 2005) According to a report in the April 2003 issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology (2003;121:478-482.), the bacterium Chlamydia pneumoniae may lead to a higher risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The researchers found that people with AMD tend to carry higher levels of antibodies targeted against C. pneumoniae, [Read More]