Role of Fas-ligand in age-related maculopathy not established

PURPOSE: Fas,ligand expression on retinal pigment epi, thelium is hypothesi zed to have an inhibitory effect on human ocular neovascularization. METHODS: We studied Fas-ligand expression in the aging retinal pigment epit helium and in early and late stages of age,related maculopathy. Immunohisto chemistry with antibodies against Fas-ligand was performed on paraffin, emb edded sections of 23 human eye bank eyes (aged 45 to 96 years) and 12 eyes with exudative age,related maculopathy. RESULTS: Fas,ligand expression in retinal pigment epithelium was not relate d to age or to the presence of early age,related maculopathy. Furthermore, Fas-ligand expression in retinal pigment epithelium was similar in subretin al and subretinal pigment epithelium choroidal neovascular membranes. CONCLUSION: It appears to be unlikely that Fas-ligand expressed on retinal pigment epithelium controls the extension of choroidal neovascular membrane s from sub, retinal pigment epithelium to subretinal. (Am J Ophthalmol 2001 ;132:437-439. (C) 2001 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.).