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Research Article: Faricimab in neovascular age-related macular degeneration: aqueous humor cytokine profiling and biomarker correlations

Date Published: 2026-08-21

Abstract:
To investigate aqueous humor cytokine profile changes in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) patients before and after intravitreal faricimab injection, and their correlation with biomarkers. Twenty-three nAMD patients and 10 cataract controls were enrolled. Aqueous humor was collected from nAMD patients at baseline and 12?weeks post-faricimab injection, and from controls during phacoemulsification. Twelve cytokines were quantified via multiplex bead-based immunoassay. OCTA measured central macular thickness (CMT) and retinal vessel density in nAMD eyes. Baseline vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and HGF levels were higher in nAMD patients than controls. Post-treatment, VEGF and Ang-2 decreased below control levels, while hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and interferon gamma protein 10 (IP-10) increased significantly. Reductions in Ang-2/VEGF correlated positively with decreased CMT and whole retinal thickness, with concurrent improvements in best-corrected visual acuity. Elevated IP-10 showed a correlative association with reduced superficial foveal vessel density. Faricimab dual-blockades VEGF/Ang-2, reducing their aqueous levels, improving CMT/whole retinal thickness and visual acuity. However, post-treatment HGF/IP-10 upregulation indicates compensatory inflammatory-angiogenic remodeling. IP-10 may serve as a potential correlative biomarker linked to subclinical capillary rarefaction. Future studies should explore combined anti-IP-10 therapy or extended dosing intervals to preserve foveal vasculature while maintaining anti-leakage efficacy.

Introduction:
Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is the leading cause of irreversible central vision loss in individuals aged ?60?years globally ( 1 ). Although intravitreal inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has significantly improved patient outcomes, a considerable proportion of patients still require frequent injections or develop tolerance, indicating that other angiogenic and inflammatory pathways beyond VEGF continue to drive choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and vascular…

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