Fig 1: Homocysteine promotes angiogenesis and induces choroidal neovascularization (CNV). (a) ELISA measurement of serum Hcy showing a significant increase in patients with neovascular AMD. (b) ELISA measurement of serum CBS enzyme showing a significant decrease in patients with neovascular AMD. (c) Intravitreal injection of Hcy in wild-type mice induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV), as shown in retinal sections stained with isolectin-B4 (Arrows) (n = 6 mice per group). (d) Flat-mount retina stained with isolectin-B4. (e) Statistical analysis for the CNV size, showing that Hcy significantly increased the extent of laser-induced CNV in wild-type mice. (f) Immunofluorescence staining showing a marked increase in the immunoreactivity of the proliferation factor Ki67 in cultured mouse choroidal endothelial cells (green) by Hcy treatment (n = 4). Calibration bar: 50 µm; * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, and *** p < 0.001. Symbols (dark circles; represent number of normal patients, squares, represent number of AREDS patients and the triangles; represent the number of neovascular AMD patients).