Past Issues: Ophthalmic disease

June 2009

Targets and Mechanisms

Seeing CNV sooner

by Michael J. Haas, Senior Writer

Published online June 25 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.995

A multinational research team suggests that noninvasive imaging of CCR3 could help detect incipient wet age-related macular degeneration, making earlier therapeutic intervention possible. The researchers also suggest that CCR3 inhibition could be used to augment treatment with VEGF-A inhibitors.

Distillery: Therapeutics

CC chemokine receptor 3 (CCR3); eotaxin-1 (CCL11); eotaxin-2 (CCL24); eotaxin-3 (CCL26)

Published online June 18 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.983

Studies in human tissues and in mice suggest that targeting CCR3 or its ligands could help treat AMD.

Distillery: Therapeutics

Not applicable

Published online June 11 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.952

In vitro and mouse studies suggest that cortistatin A analogs could help block angiogenesis to treat wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).