Grant: Project Grant

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of legal blindness in older people in industrialized countries. This disease is characterized by an alteration of the retina and vision due to the proliferation of aberrant blood vessels. This neovascularization is induced by the disruption of growth factors (particularly VEGF, vascular growth factor) and inflammation. The current therapy targets VEGF, but has many limitations including relative efficacy, frequency and discomfort of treatment. Given the involvement of kinins in retinal inflammation and the pathological events that may lead to neovascularization, we want to evaluate their impact in a model of AMD, choroidal neovascularization (CNV). The purpose of this study is twofold: (1) to evaluate the impact of kinin receptor inhibitors on inflammation and choroidal neovascularization, and (2) the interaction of kinins with VEGF. This project will therefore improve the effectiveness of current treatments and develop a new approach to treat AMD: the use of kinin B1R receptor inhibitors, already targeted to prevent macular edema in retinopathies.