Establishment of novel biomarkers and drug discovery bases for the development of filter bleb scarring inhibitors

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K18830
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56060:Ophthalmology-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Satoru Tsuda 東北大学, 大学病院, 助教 (60791093)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 緑内障 / 線維柱帯切除術 / 手術 / 偏光OCT / 創傷治癒 / 瘢痕抑制 / 手術成績

Outline of Final Research Achievements

For improvement of the surgical results of glaucoma, the scarring of the filtration bleb after trabeculectomy in the rabbit is non-invasively quantified as a birefringence value with the anterior segment polarization sensitive OCT, which is a medical device originated from Japan. A strong relationship was found between the birefringence value and the collagen density of the tissue section. In addition, in rabbit trabeculectomy using a known scar suppressant, the intraocular pressure lowering effect continued for a long period of time, the birefringence value due to anterior segment PS-OCT was low after surgery, and collagen density in the excised tissue section was decreasing. Based on the above, we have established a biomarker that can quantitatively evaluate the scarring of the filtration bleb by the anterior segment PS-OCT, and clarified that it can be used to evaluate the efficacy of scar suppressants.

Free Research Field

眼科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、本邦発の医療機器である前眼部偏光OCTを活用し、線維柱帯切除術後の濾過胞瘢痕化のバイオマーカ－を確立して瘢痕化抑制薬の創薬研究の基盤を作成した。本成果は治療成績を向上させる革新的医薬品の開発促進に繋がることが期待される。
本邦は超高齢化に伴い緑内障患者は増加し、未だに中途失明原因の第1位である。本研究成果は、保存的治療では奏功しない難治性緑内障に対する標準的術式である線維柱帯切除術の治療成績を向上させ、緑内障による失明の減少に繋がり、緑内障患者のQOL及びADLの改善に寄与することから極めて社会的・経済的意義が大きい。