diverse roles of macrophages in intraocular neovascular diseases: a review

Abstract

Macrophages are involved in angiogenesis, and might also contribute to the pathogenesis of intraocular neovascular diseases. Recent studies indicated that macrophages exert different functions in the process of intraocular neovascularization, and the polarization of M1 and M2 phenotypes plays extremely essential roles in the diverse functions of macrophages. Moreover, a large number of cytokines released by macrophages not only participate in macrophage polarization, but also associate with retinal and choroidal neovascular diseases. Therefore, macrophage might be considered as a novel therapeutic target to the treatment of pathological neovascularization in the eye. This review mainly summarizes diverse roles of macrophages and discusses the possible mechanisms in retinal and choroidal neovascularization.