Figure 3. Systemic ECT-mediated delivery of CR2-fH reduces CNV and complement activation. One month following subcutaneous injection of alginate capsules, laser choroidal neovascularization (CNV) was induced. On day 5 after injury, the lesion sizes were analyzed with optical coherence tomography (OCT; lesion size and height), and complement activation was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the C3 breakdown product C3a. A, B: CNV sizes and lesion heights were statistically significantly reduced in animals treated with ARPE-19 cells expressing CR2-fH as opposed to those expressing CR2. The gray line in the en face image can be used to pick the locations of B-scans, but are not used here; CNV lesion height is measured between BrM (black line) and its peak. C: CNV induced complement activation as demonstrated by elevated levels of C3 breakdown product C3a when compared to animals with no lesions (control), an effect that was mitigated by CR2-fH but not CR2. Data shown are average values (± standard error of the mean [SEM]; n = 5–8 animals per condition).