uparant is an effective antiangiogenic agent in a mouse model of rubeosis iridis

Puncture-induced iris neovascularization (rubeosis iridis; ri) in mice is associated with upregulation of extracellular matrix (ecm) degradation and inflammatory factors. the anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory efficacy of uparant in reducing ri was determined by noninvasive, in vivo iris vascular densitometry, and confirmed in vitro by quantitative vascular-specific immunostaining. intravitreal administration of uparant successfully and rapidly reduced ri to non-induced control levels. molecular analysis revealed that uparant inhibits formyl peptide receptors through a predominantly anti-inflammatory response, accompanied with a significant reduction in ecm degradation and inflammation markers. similar results were observed with uparant administered systemically by subcutaneous injection. these data suggest that the tetrapeptide uparant is an effective anti-angiogenic agent for the treatment of ri, both by local and systemic administrations. the effectiveness of uparant in reducing ri in a model independent of the canonical vascular endothelial growth factor (vegf) proposes an alternative for patients that do not respond to anti-vegf treatments, which could improve treatment in proliferative ocular diseases.