ESCRS - PO194 - Dna Methyltransferase As A Potential Biomarker For Avvegf Therapy In Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Ipl/Idi&Ca2023/Detectnamd_Estesl)

Dna Methyltransferase As A Potential Biomarker For Avvegf Therapy In Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Ipl/Idi&Ca2023/Detectnamd_Estesl)

Published 2024 - 42nd Congress of the ESCRS

Reference: PO194 | Type: ESONT Abstract | DOI: 10.82333/zypq-6g74

Authors: Pedro Camacho* 1 , Edna Ribeiro 1 , Bruno Pereira 1 , Catarina Ginete 1 , Mariana Delgadinho 1 , João Nascimento 2 , Sandra Barrão 3 , José Henriques 4 , Paulo Rosa 3 , Andreia Almeida 3 , Silvia Sadio 3 , Cidalia Raposo 3 , Rosa Fernandes 3 , Bruno Quendera 3 , Carina Silva 1 , Miguel Brito 1

1H&TRC- Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL- Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal,Lisbon,Portugal, 2Hospital Beatriz Ângelo - Unidade Local de Saúde de Loures-Odivelas,Loures,Portugal, 3Unidade Local de Saúde São José,Lisbon,Portugal, 4Instituto de Retina de Lisboa (IRL),Lisbon,Portugal

Purpose

To describe differences in DNA methyltranferase expression (DNMT1, DNMT3A e DNMT3B) and correlate with non-invasive structural findings (imaging biomarkers) in different AMD stages, elucidating distinct patterns and pathways in AMD development and progression.

Setting

Conducted at Instituto de Retina de Lisboa and Instituto de Oftalmologia Gama Pinto, two Portuguese clinical sites and members of the EVICR.net.

Methods

Prospective inclusion of 30 AMD patients (ages 55–90) classified into early/intermediate (iAMD) and advanced (aAMD) stages. Only cases with a complete ophthalmological examination, digital 133º color fundus, and SD-OCT assessments were used. RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, and quantitative RT-PCR, with specific primers on the CFX Connect™, were performed to assess transcriptional expression patterns.

Results

aAMD participants exhibited lower visual acuity (p=0.001) , compared to iAMD participants, with no significant changes in central retinal thickness or minimum foveal thickness. Quantitative analysis revealed decreased DNMT1 (p=0.003), DNMT3A (p=0.004), and DNMT3B (p=0.004) expression in the aAMD group compared to iAMD group.

Conclusions

Altered expression of epigenetic modulator genes (DNMT1, DNMT3A, DNMT3B) in different AMD stages may serve as potential biomarkers for optimizing therapeutics in this leading cause of blindness.