Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40488713›Full record

ArticleInvestigative ophthalmology & visual science2025

RAGE Is Essential for Subretinal Fibrosis in Laser-Induced Choroidal Neovascularization: Therapeutic Implications.

Parameswaran G Sreekumar, Mi-Hyun Nam, Elise Hong, Ram Kannan, Ram H Nagaraj

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Investigative ophthalmology & visual science, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Parameswaran G SreekumarDoheny Eye Institute, Pasadena, California, United States.
Mi-Hyun NamSue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center and Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, United States.
Elise HongDoheny Eye Institute, Pasadena, California, United States.
Ram KannanDoheny Eye Institute, Pasadena, California, United States.
Ram H NagarajSue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center and Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, United States.

Funding

Lens capsule and secondary cataractR01EY033915 · NEI · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · PI NAGARAJ, RAM H · 2022 to 2025
$1.5M
Novel Mechanisms of Subretinal Fibrosis in Age-related Macular DegenerationR01EY030141 · NEI · DOHENY EYE INSTITUTE · PI KANNAN, RAM · 2020 to 2023
$1.5M
NEI NIH HHS R01 EY030141NEI NIH HHS R01 EY033915
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: Subretinal fibrosis, a complication of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), involves the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells as a contributing mechanism. The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is a multiligand receptor implicated in fibrotic diseases, but its role in subretinal fibrosis has not been studied. This study investigated the role of RAGE in subretinal fibrosis. Methods: Subretinal fibrosis was induced in male RAGE-/- and wild-type (WT) mice via laser photocoagulation, and fibrosis lesion volume was assessed on day 35 using optical coherence tomography and immunostaining. In vitro, EMT was induced in primary human RPE cells with transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF-β2). The role of RAGE in EMT was studied in cells pretreated with RAGE antagonists (FPS-ZM1 or azeliragon), followed by cotreatment with TGF-β2 for 48 hours. Signaling studies were conducted by pretreatment with FPS-ZM1 for 2 hours, cotreatment with TGF-β2 for 60 minutes, and subsequent immunoblot analysis. Results: In RAGE-/- mice, subretinal fibrosis after laser-induced choroidal neovascularization was significantly reduced, with a smaller fibrosis volume, less inflammation, decreased activation of pSmad2, and reduced deposition of fibrotic markers (αSMA, collagen I) compared to WT mice. In vitro treatment with TGF-β2 in human RPE cells increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and upregulated EMT markers (αSMA, collagen I, and fibronectin), which were inhibited by cotreatment with FPS-ZM1 or azeliragon. FPS-ZM1 blocked TGF-β2-induced Smad2-dependent signaling and EMT without affecting the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that RAGE plays a role in RPE cell EMT in subretinal fibrosis and that RAGE antagonists attenuate this process, making RAGE a promising therapeutic target for subretinal fibrosis in nAMD.

Indexed as

Choroidal NeovascularizationReceptor for Advanced Glycation End ProductsAnimalsBenzamidesCells, CulturedDisease Models, AnimalEpithelial-Mesenchymal TransitionFibrosisHumansLaser CoagulationMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, KnockoutRetinal Pigment EpitheliumSignal TransductionBenzamidesFPS-ZM1Receptor for Advanced Glycation End ProductsTransforming Growth Factor beta2

Identifiers

PMID40488713
PMCPMC12161369

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.