Lipid profiles of retinal pigment epithelial cells and the mechanism of Drusen formation.

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K09991
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56060:Ophthalmology-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Ikeda Hanako 京都大学, 医学研究科, 特定准教授 (20372162)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 大石 明生 京都大学, 医学研究科, 特定病院助教 (50572955) ; 岩井 祥子 京都大学, 医学研究科, 特定研究員 (00768905)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 黄斑変性 / ドルーゼン / iPS / 網膜色素上皮 / 脂質

Outline of Final Research Achievements

iPS cells were established from patients with macular degeneration and healthy subjects and induced to differentiate into retinal pigment epithelial cells. There were no significant differences in morphology or expression of retinal pigment epithelial cell-specific genes. Phagocytosis was slightly decreased in disease-derived retinal pigment epithelium. Comprehensive lipid analysis revealed that the intracellular lipid composition of retinal pigment epithelial cells derived from patients differed significantly from that of retinal pigment epithelial cells derived from healthy individuals. In addition, culture on membranes showed that patient-derived retinal pigment epithelial cells formed Drusen-like deposits.

Free Research Field

眼科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

現在日本において加齢黄斑変性は中途失明の原因の一つであり、患者数は増加の一途をたどっている。本研究にて、黄斑変性患者由来の網膜色素上皮細胞では、健常者由来の網膜色素上皮細胞を比較して、細胞内脂質の組成が大きく異なる事が明らかになった。詳細な検討により、ドルーゼン形成のメカニズムが詳細に解明されれば、発症予防治療法の開発につながり、学術的、また社会的な意義は非常に大きいと考えられる。