Mechanisms underlying phosphorylation of alpha-crystallin in diabetic retinopathy

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K10856
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Ophthalmology
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Kase Satoru 北海道大学, 大学病院, 講師 (60374394)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 神田 敦宏 北海道大学, 医学研究院, 特任講師 (80342707)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: αークリスタリン / VEGF / 糖尿病網膜症

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We found that retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)/choroid thickness was significantly increased from 4 to 8 weeks after streptozotocin (STZ) stimulation, which reached maximum at 8 weeks. Histopathology demonstrated thickened choroid comprising stromal accumulation of some materials and pigments as well as small vessels 8 weeks after stimulation. We further examined protein concentrations using ELISA system. VEGF and alphaB-crystallin concentrations in RPE/choroid proteins were significantly lower in 8 weeks after STZ mice than 4 weeks or control mice. Retinal tissue proteins also revealed similar VEGF/alphaB-crystallin concentrations. We now try to analyze mechanisms underlying such down-regulation of VEGF/alphaB-crystallin in STZ-induced diabetic mice.

Free Research Field

眼科学