Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. Vision loss from the neovascular form is associated with the invasion of choroidal endothelial cells into the neural retina to form vision-threatening macular neovascularization (MNV). Anti-angiogenic agents are the current standard of care but are effective in only ~50% of AMD cases. The molecular mechanisms involved in invasive MNV point to the importance of regulating signaling pathways that lead to pathologic biologic outcomes. In studies testing the effects of AMD-related stresses, activation of the Rho GTPase, Rac1, was found to be important for the choroidal endothelial cell invasion into the neural retina. However, current approaches to prevent Rac1 activation are inefficient and less effective. We summarize active Rac1-mediated mechanisms that regulate choroidal endothelial cell migration. Specifically, we discuss our work regarding the role of a multidomain protein, IQ motif containing GTPase activating protein 1 (IQGAP1), in sustaining pathologic Rac1 activation and a mechanism by which active Rap1, a Ras-like GTPase, may prevent active Rac1-mediated choroidal endothelial cell migration.
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration; choroidal endothelial cells; macular neovascularization; rho gtpases.