| Budget Amount *help |
¥3,500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,500,000)
Fiscal Year 2006: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000)
Fiscal Year 2005: ¥2,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,200,000)
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| Research Abstract |
Thymidine phosphorylase (TP), an enzyme involved in pyrimidine nucleoside metabolism, is identical to platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor, and has angiogenic activity in various tumor tissues. The purpose of this study was to determine whether TP is involved in the choroidal neovascularization, and thymidine phosphorylase inhibitor (TPI) suppresses choroidal neovascularization formation. Surgically removed choroidal neovascular membranes (CNVMs) were obtained at vitrectomy from three eyes with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), three eyes with angioid streaks (AS), three eyes with idiopathic choroidal neovascularization (ICNV), and two eyes with myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV). Light microscopic immunohistochemical staining and hematoxylin-eosin staining were performed to determine the cell type expressing TP. The intensity of staining was scored as follows : 0 is no staining ; 1 is slight staining ; 2 is moderate staining ; 3 is strong staining. All specimens had immunoreactivity of TP. The immunoreactivity was observed at following cell types in the CNVMs: macrophages, vascular cells, and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. Mean intensity score of all specimens were macrophages of 1.91±0.793, vascular cells of 1. 73± 0.962, and RPE of 1.36± 1.150. Mean intensity score of AMD is 2.33± 0.471, 1.33± 0.942, 2.0± 0.816, ICNV is 2.33±0.942, 2.0±0.816, 2.0±1.247, AS is 1.0±0, 2.0±0, 0.66±0.471, and mCNV is 2.0±0, 1.0±1.50, 0.50±0.50. TP produces strong immunoreactivity from Macrophages and vascular cells. Both AMD and ICNV show strong immunoreactivity for TP. We continuously investigate TPI suppresses the formation of CNVM in animal model.
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