Evaluating the Therapeutic Potential of Superoxide Dismutase in a Rat Model of Wet Age‐Related Macular Degeneration

Abstract

ABSTRACT Age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of vision loss in the elderly, with limited oral treatment options for the wet form characterized by choroidal neovascularization (CNV). This study evaluated GF103, a mutant superoxide dismutase (SOD) from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, for its potential as an oral therapy in a laser‐induced CNV rat model. GF103 was orally administered at varying doses, and outcomes included CNV area, retinal leakage, and VEGF/HIF‐1α expression. GF103 was well tolerated and significantly reduced CNV area and retinal VEGF expression at higher doses (≥ 25 mg/kg for retinal VEGF expression; ≥ 50 mg/kg for CNV area). While reductions in fluorescein leakage and HIF‐1α levels were not statistically significant, trends suggested modulation of oxidative and hypoxia‐related pathways. These results support the potential of GF103 as a safe oral adjunct to existing therapies for wet AMD, meriting further investigation.

Keywords

• Brown Norway rats
• choroidal neovascularization
• reactive oxygen species
• superoxide dismutase
• vascular endothelial growth factor
• wet age‐related macular degeneration