Immunohistochemical study of surgically excised choroidal neovascular membranes.

We carried out an immunohistochemical investigation of the choroidal neovascular membranes from 12 eyes surgically excised as a result of age-related macular degeneration (n = 6) or idiopathic choroidal neovascularization (n = 6). Immunohistochemical staining was performed with antibodies specific for basic transcriptional element binding protein-2, actin or smooth muscle cell 1. In all membranes, the endothelial cells and stromal components around the vessels were immunoreactive for expression of basic transcriptional element binding protein-2, while immunoreactive expression of actin and smooth muscle cell type 1 was found in the surrounding stromal cells. These results suggest that basic transcriptional element binding protein-2, a zinc finger transcription factor, may contribute to the establishment of the choroidal neovascularization observed in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration and idiopathic choroidal neovascularization.