FABP4 deficiency is associated with reduced proliferation of neovascular tufts and differential expression of angiogenesis-related genes.

(A) Tufts associated PHH3 positive (red) or activated Caspase-3 positive (red) cells were quantified on FITC-BS1-stained (green) retina flat-mounts of P17 WT and FABP4^−/− OIR mice. FABP4 deficiency led to a robust reduction in the number of proliferating ECs in neovascular tufts. No significant difference in the number of apoptotic neovascular EC was observed (mean ± SEM, n  = 4–6). (B) Changes in mRNA levels of selected genes in retinas from P15 WT and FABP4^−/− OIR or control mice. The relative steady-state mRNA levels were determined by real-time PCR. Results are presented as mean ± SD based on 4–6 samples from individual mice collected from 2–3 independent litters. NS: not significant, ^a: Comparison of FABP4^−/− control versus WT control; ^b: comparison of WT OIR versus WT control; ^c: comparison of FABP4^−/− OIR versus WT OIR.