Figure 7.

After intraocular injection, AXT107 co-localizes with α_vβ₃ and α₅β₁ in ischemic retina and retinas of rho/VEGF transgenic mice

Mice with oxygen-induced ischemic retinopathy (n = 10, OIR, P16) and rho/VEGF transgenic mice (n = 10, P20) were given an intravitreous injection of 1 μg of AXT107. After 24 h, ocular sections were immunostained for α_vβ₃ or α₅β₁ and AXT107. In the retinas of OIR mice, AXT107 co-localized with α_vβ₃ (A–D) and α₅β₁ (E–H) in retinal NV on the surface of the retina and in some pre-existent vessels within the retina. In rho/VEGF mice, AXT107 co-localized with α_vβ₃ (I–L) and α₅β₁ (M−P) in vascular structures throughout the retina including type 3 choroidal NV in the outer retina. C57BL/6 wild-type control mice were euthanized, and ocular sections were stained with Alexa Fluor 594-conjugated Griffonia Simplicifolia Agglutinin (GSA) lectin and immunostained for α_vβ₃ (n = 10) or α₅β₁ (n = 10). There was no α_vβ₃ (Q–T) or α₅β₁ (U–X) detectable on GSA-labeled retinal vessels in room air control retina. A minimum of 20 ocular sections were assessed per group. The study was conducted in duplicates, and qualitatively similar results were found in the replicates. Scale bar = 100 μm.