Serum elastin-derived peptides in age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE Dysregulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Elastin is a fibrous protein constituent of the ECM, degradation of which may be detected by the presence of serum elastin-derived peptides (S-EDPs) in circulation. This study was undertaken to estimate levels of S-EDPs in patients with AMD compared with age-matched control subjects. METHODS Fifty-six patients with AMD were classified into two groups: early age-related maculopathy (ARM) and neovascular AMD. The control group consisted of 15 age-matched subjects with no AMD. S-EDP levels in the serum of these subjects was estimated by competitive ELISA, using solubilized alpha-elastin from human aorta and polyclonal antibodies to this antigen. RESULTS S-EDPs were significantly higher in patients with AMD than in control subjects. In addition, subjects with neovascular AMD had higher levels of S-EDPs than did those with early disease. CONCLUSIONS The cause of this association between S-EDPs and AMD is unknown, but it suggests that systemic elastin degradation may increase the risk of conversion from early ARM to neovascular AMD. Further studies are needed to confirm whether the serum level of S-EDPs is a useful predictor of conversion from early ARM to neovascular AMD.