Fig. 9: Working model. | Nature Communications

Fig. 9: Working model.

From: Smoking aggravates neovascular age-related macular degeneration via Sema4D-PlexinB1 axis-mediated activation of pericytes

Fig. 9: Working model.

A schematic illustration presents the mechanisms. Smoking increases the expression of Sema4d in peripheral CD8+ T cells, which are then recruited to the CNV lesion area via the CXCL12-CXCR4 axis. These T cells act on PlexinB1 of pericytes, activating them and thereby exacerbating CNV damage. Meanwhile, ROR2 on pericytes is a co-activating receptor for Sema4D-mediated PlexinB1 activation, promoting the phosphorylation of PlexinB1 and the activation of RhoA, which subsequently regulates pericyte proliferation, migration, and contraction.

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