Neuroprotective gene therapy for glaucoma model animals

• Project/Area Number: 26670756
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Ophthalmology
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Ikeda Yasuhiro 九州大学, 医学研究院, 准教授 (20380389)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2016)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,380,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥780,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000)
• Keywords: 緑内障 / 遺伝子治療 / 神経保護 / ミクログリア / 網膜神経節細胞死 / 網膜神経節細胞保護

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the present study, we used DBA/2J mice as a glaucoma model. First, we measured intraocular pressure (IOP) in DBA/2J mice at several time points and we checked IOP was high in almost all DBA/2J. Moreover, we performed histopathological analysis using retinal sections and flat-mount retinal specimens and functional gene expression analysis in retina, at several time points (two, 4, 6, 8, and 10 months after birth).
We also performed gene therapy study using 2-month-old DBA/2J mice. Now, we assess the therapeutic efficacy via retrograde labeling analysis of retinal ganglion cell.