Regulation of angiogenesis by macrophages.

Abnormal angiogenesis is a cardinal feature in the pathophysiology of several diseases of the retina including retinopathy of prematurity, diabetic retinopathy and choroidal neovascularization associated with age-related macular degeneration. Recent evidence has implicated macrophages as components of the innate immune system that play a key role in regulating angiogenesis in the retina and choroid. This review will focus on the role of macrophages in regulating ocular angiogenesis.