Implication of CD21, CD35, and CD55 in the Pathogenesis of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Purpose To determine a possible implication of CD21, CD35, and CD55 in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by assessing the difference in expression rates of these factors on AMD patients and a control group. Design Case-control study. Methods Fifty unrelated AMD patients and 48 unrelated sex- and age-matched control subjects participated in this case-control study. Samples of fresh EDTA-blood were stained and flow cytometry was chosen to measure fluorescence emissions. The association between exudative AMD and CD21, CD35, and CD55 was evaluated from all patients who completed the study. Results Our study shows CD35 to be expressed in a significantly higher frequency in AMD patients on monocytes ( P = .00586), lymphocytes ( P = .000605), and granulocytes ( P < .000033). In contrast, the expression rate of CD21 ( P > .05) and CD55 ( P > .05) are similar in both groups. Conclusion More regulative factors of the complement system are involved in pathogenesis of AMD. Our study underlines the key role of the complement system in AMD and shows the involvement of the whole immune system through more regulative factors.