Endothelial colony forming cells in retinal vasculature

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K09674
• 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: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Sakimoto Susumu 大阪大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 特任准教授(常勤) (60633047)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 網膜血管 / 血管内皮細胞 / 血管内皮コロニー形成細胞 / 糖尿病網膜症

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We analyzed the retinal vascular remodeling mechanism of gene A, which belongs to the CREB family. Retinal vascular endothelial cells were isolated using flow cytometry in wild-type mice during retinal vascular development and in an ischemic retinopathy model, and gene A expression was confirmed by qPCR. Angiogenesis assays using gene A knockdown (KD) human retinal vascular endothelial cells showed a significant decrease in vascular density. Analysis using gene A knockout (KO) mice showed decreased vascular elongation and an increase in the vascular-free field in the OIR model. Results suggest that gene A is involved in retinal vascular architecture.

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Free Research Field

眼科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

血管内皮コロニー形成細胞（Endothelial colony-forming cells: ECFCs）は、細胞治療に用いるヒトないしは自家血管内皮細胞のソースとして知られているが、近年広義のECFCとして、生体内における血管内皮幹/前駆細胞の存在が注目されている。申請者は、最近報告されているCD201などのマーカーに着目し、網膜血管におけるECFCの同定とニッチ環境の解明を行っており、本研究成果はECFCを調節する遺伝子の役割を明らかにすることができた。