Importance of the Intracellular Antioxidant Thioredoxin in a Mouse Model of Retinopathy of Prematurity

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K08259
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 52050:Embryonic medicine and pediatrics-related
• Research Institution: Saitama Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Namba Fumihiko 埼玉医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (20643323)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 未熟児網膜症 / 高濃度酸素 / 早産児 / チオレドキシン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Wild-type (WT) and thioredoxin-1 (TRX)-Tg mice were exposed to high concentrations of oxygen during the neonatal period and retinal phenotypes were evaluated. After exposure to hyperoxia, WT showed an increase in the area of atretic vessels and nodules due to neovascularization in the retina, whereas the increase was reduced in TRX-Tg mice. During the recovery period from exposure to hyperoxia, TRX-Tg suppressed abnormal neovascularization and increased vascular permeability. Overexpressed TRX alleviated the phenotype of hyperoxia-induced retinopathy by modulating gene expression of inflammatory cytokines and angiogenic factors.

Free Research Field

新生児学、呼吸器学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

未熟児網膜症(retinopathy of prematurity、ROP)は、小児の失明原因の中で最も多い原因の一つで、主に在胎期間28週未満の超早産児が罹患する。現在、ROPに対する治療として、レーザー光凝固術、冷凍凝固術、抗血管内皮増殖因子薬硝子体注射が行われているが、その効果は限定的であり、副作用も懸念される。本研究では、TRX-Tgマウスは、WTマウスと比較して、高濃度酸素曝露による網膜障害を軽減した。今回のわれわれの結果から、TRXは将来ROPの予防または治療薬として臨床応用されることが期待される。