Helmholtz Gemeinschaft

Search
Browse
Statistics
Feeds

Sex differences on laser-induced choroidal neovascularization and short-chain fatty acid treatment in a mouse model

[thumbnail of Original Article]
Preview
PDF (Original Article) - Requires a PDF viewer such as GSview, Xpdf or Adobe Acrobat Reader
9MB
[thumbnail of Supplementary Material] Other (Supplementary Material)
536kB

Item Type:Article
Title:Sex differences on laser-induced choroidal neovascularization and short-chain fatty acid treatment in a mouse model
Creators Name:Yan, Chufan, Andreeta Figueiredo, Caio, Pompös, Inga-Marie, Ugursu, Bilge, Arribas-Lange, Paula, Skosyrski, Sergej, Yang, Seulkee, Althoff, Petra, Kociok, Norbert, Joussen, Antonia M and Wolf, Susanne A.
Abstract:Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness worldwide, with a clinical presentation that varies between sexes. In late-stage AMD, choroidal neovascularization (CNV) triggers retinal inflammation and degeneration, processes that are exacerbated by an overactive response of retinal microglial cells. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) have emerged as potential treatments for AMD due to their anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigate the effects of SCFA treatment in a laser-induced CNV mouse model, focusing on sexdependent differences in disease progression and microglial response. Our findings demonstrate distinct sexspecific patterns in the development of CNV and associated pathological hallmarks. SCFA treatment resulted in a slight increase in density of Iba1(+) microglial cells in females at 3 days post-laser (3dpl), while it prevented an increase in males at 7 dpl, with both sexes showing enhanced microglial ramification. The dynamics of microglial density were likely linked to protective effects on CNV lesion, leakage size, and inflammation, which occurred earlier in females and later in males. At transcriptional level, SCFA showed mixed effects, mainly targeting inflammation resolution, mitochondrial support, and neuronal repair in a sex-dependent manner. In vitro, SCFAs reduced microglial phagocytosis of retinal debris, suggesting a potential anti-inflammatory action. This study underscores the importance of considering sex-specific responses in the development of AMD treatments, such as SCFAs, and highlights the need for personalized therapeutic strategies.
Keywords:Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Choroidal Neovascularization, Retinal Microglia, Short-Chain Fatty Acids, Sex Differences, Animals, Mice
Source:Journal of Neuroinflammation
ISSN:1742-2094
Publisher:BioMed Central
Volume:22
Number:1
Page Range:188
Date:19 July 2025
Official Publication:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-025-03508-1
PubMed:View item in PubMed

Repository Staff Only: item control page

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

Open Access
MDC Library