Promotion of retinal pigment epithelial cell proliferation in experimental choroidal neovascularization by human interferon-beta

Interferon (IFN) therapy for age-related macular degeneration is still controversial. We have already demonstrated that systemic administration of human IFN-β promotes proliferation of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in experimental choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in monkey eyes1. We have now performed quantitative analysis regarding RPE proliferation in the regressive process associated with experimental CNV by IFN-β to clarify the effect of IFN-β in vivo.