Regenerative therapy with transcriptional activators using the common marmoset optic nerve crush model.

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18365
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56060:Ophthalmology-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science
• Principal Investigator: NORO Takahiko 公益財団法人東京都医学総合研究所, 疾患制御研究分野, 研究員 (00349606)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: コモン・マーモセット / 網膜神経節細胞 / 視神経挫滅モデル / 転写活性因子 / 正常眼圧緑内障

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in Japan, and although various studies have been conducted, no breakthrough treatment has yet been established to improve the current situation. In this study, we aimed to establish a regenerative therapy for normal tension glaucoma by using common marmosets, focusing on transcription activating factors that are important for cell survival. As a result, we identified transcription factors that are important for the regeneration of retinal ganglion cells and succeeded in strong regenerative therapy in mice. We also succeeded in establishing optic nerve crush model in marmosets and performing similar gene therapy. However, the regenerative effect was not the same in marmosets as in mice, and the development of more efficient gene therapy is a future subject.

Free Research Field

眼科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

高齢化社会の到来とともに、緑内障患者数はさらに増加することが予想されている。そこで適切な緑内障疾患モ
デルを活用した薬剤や治療法の研究が今後ますます求められる状況である。今回の研究では、齧歯類と霊長類を用いた遺伝子治療研究を比較しながら行っており、本研究成果が緑内障のあたらしい治療法の開発促進に寄与することが期待される。