Intravitreal aflibercept protects photoreceptors of mice against excessive light exposure.

Our previous studies found that an anti-placental growth factor (PlGF) antibody protected the retina in light-induced retinal damage model, a model of non-exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Aflibercept is an inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and PlGF. In present study, we revealed that the intravitreal injection of aflibercept lessens light-induced retinal damage, while anti-VEGF antibody has no effect on the light-exposed retina. Moreover, PlGF disrupted the tight junctions between the human retinal pigment epithelial cells in vitro, and aflibercept blocked the disruption. These data suggest that the aflibercept may be an effective treatment of non-exudative AMD.