Gut microbiome and genetic variants in exudative age-related macular degeneration

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K18831
• 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: Yasuda Masayuki 東北大学, 大学病院, 助教 (00569585)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 加齢黄斑変性 / 酸化ストレス / 腸内細菌叢

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an important ocular disease that is one of the leading causes of blindness in adults. In this study, we investigated the relationship of blood oxidative stress marker (i.e., oxidative stress level (dROM) and antioxidant capacity (BAP)) with exudative AMD (wAMD) using a free radical analyzer. The results showed that dROM was significantly higher in the wAMD group (P<0.01). Next, we extracted DNA from the feces of the wAMD patients, then, performed 16s rRNA sequence. The results showed significant changes in the composition of the phylum Bacteroidetes and Verrucomicrobia in wAMD. This study suggests that oxidative stress and changes in the gut microbiota are associated with the pathogenesis of wAMD.

Free Research Field

眼科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

加齢黄斑変性（AMD）は失明原因として頻度が高い疾患であり、超高齢社会を迎える本邦において、特に対策が必要な疾患である。滲出型の加齢黄斑変性（ｗAMD）は高額な薬剤の継続治療が必要になることが多く、病態解明と新たな治療の確立が必要である。本研究の結果から、酸化ストレスや腸内細菌叢の変化がwAMDの病態に関連することが示唆された。この成果は、将来的にwAMDの個別化予防医療に貢献する可能性がある。