Elevated Levels of Endoglin, Endostatin, FGF-α, HGF, and Thrombospondin-2 in Aqueous Humor of nAMD Patients

Abstract

ABSTRACT Purpose to explore the aqueous cytokine profiles in nAMD patients before and after conbercept therapy. Methods aqueous levels of 17 cytokines were detected in 20 treatment-naïve nAMD eyes and 20 age- and sex-matched age-related cataract (ARC) eyes. All of the nAMD patients received three intravitreal injections of conbercept. The central macular thickness (CMT) and maximum retinal thickness-3 mm (MRT-3 mm) were measured by SD-OCT. Fundus fluorescein angiography (FA) was used to measure the greatest linear diameter (GLD). Results Aqueous endoglin, endostatin, FGF-α, HGF, and thrombospondin-2 levels were significantly higher in the nAMD group than those in the ARC group, whether before or after two conbercept injections. In the nAMD group, baseline thrombospondin-2 was positively correlated with GLD. Baseline FGF-α, thrombospondin-2, and VEGF-A were positively correlated with MRT-3 mm. After two conbercept injections, endostatin levels were positively correlated with VEGF-A. Conclusions Endoglin, endostatin, FGF-α, HGF, and thrombospondin-2 may participate in the pathogenesis of nAMD.