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Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: OBJECTIVE, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Actins, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Cell Differentiation, Choroid, Endothelial Growth Factors, Female, Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein, Humans, Immunoenzyme Techniques, Keratins, Lymphokines, Macular Degeneration, Male, Neovascularization, Pathologic, Pigment Epithelium of Eye, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors.
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Are transdifferentiated retinal pigment epithelial cells immunoreactive for vascular endothelial growth factor in surgically excised age-related macular degeneration-related choroidal neovascular membranes? Context: To determine the cellular origin and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) immunoreactivity of the nonvascular stromal cells in surgically excised age-related macular degeneration (ARMD)-associated choroidal neovascular membranes (CNVMs). Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on frozen sections of eight surgically excised ARMD-related CNVMs. Cytokeratin-positive, smooth muscle actin-positive polygonal or fibroblastic (transdifferentiated RPE) cells were the principal nonvascular stromal cells detected. The polygonal cells were more commonly found in active (highly vascularized) regions and were strongly immunoreactive for VEGF. The fibroblastic cells were predominantly found in fibrotic (hypovascular) regions and were minimally immunoreactive for VEGF.
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Transdifferentiated RPE cells are the principal nonvascular stromal cells of both vascular and fibrotic ARMD-related CNVMs. Preferential localization of VEGF immunoreactivity with the cytoplasm of the polygonal transdifferentiated RPE cells in the highly vascularized regions of the surgically excised CNVMs suggests an important angiogenic role of these cells and this growth factor in the progression of ARMD-related choroidal neovascularization. Final Decision: yes