Research for new treatments for targeting photoreceptor protection

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24592616
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Ophthalmology
• Research Institution: Hirosaki University
• Principal Investigator: NAKAZAWA Mitsuru 弘前大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (80180272)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): OZAKI Taku 弘前大学, 大学院医学研究科, 特任助教 (70621069)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 網膜色素変性 / カルパイン / 視細胞死 / 点眼療法 / RCSラット / ロドプシン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Retinitis pigmentosa is a group of hereditary retinal degenerations that are primarily caused by mutations of retina-specific genes. Mutations of retina-specific genes eventually cause photoreceptor death, in which calpains play important roles. Among calpain family, I have clarified that mitochondria-specific calpain-1 activates apoptosis inducing factor and leads to apoptosis. In this study, I synthesized a peptide (10 amino acid fragment) that specifically inhibit mitochondrial calpain -1 and clarified that the peptide effectively suppressed the progression of photoreceptor apoptosis by instillation to retinitis pigments model rats as eye drop.

Free Research Field

眼科学