Intravitreally Administered Soluble VEGF Receptor-1 Variant Tested as a Potential Gene Therapeutic for Diabetic Retinopathy

Figure 3

rAAV2-sVEGFRv-1 reduces retinal pericyte loss, acellular capillary formation, and vascular leakage. rAAV2-sVEGFRv-1 was shown to reduce retinal pericyte loss, which is linked to the formation of acellular capillaries, indicated in the retinal vascular histology by white arrowheads and black arrows, respectively (a). In order to highlight its particular efficacy in reducing pericyte loss, this effect of rAAV2-sVEGFRv-1 was additionally compared to bevacizumab () (b). The same quantification, however, was not performed in the acellular capillary formation statistical analysis () (c). Scale bar: 100 μm; vs. sham; †† vs. bevacizumab.

(a)

(b)

(c)