Biological function of matrix protein LTBP-2 and its involvement in eye diseases

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25462741
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Ophthalmology
• Research Institution: Kansai Medical University
• Principal Investigator: AKAMA Tomoya 関西医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (10548788)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 細胞外マトリックス構築 / ミクロフィブリル / 遺伝子改変動物 / 遺伝病

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Using gene knockout mice, we studied biological function of latent TGR-beta binding protein-2 (LTBP-2) and found the mutant mice develop lens dislocation due to malformation of ciliary zonules, which anchors lens to ciliary bodies in the eye. Since mutations of LTBP2, a gene encoding LTBP-2, have been found on patients of inherited eye diseases, such as primary congenital glaucoma and ectopia lentis, we analyzed any phenotypes related to glaucoma in the mutant mice. We observed LTBP-2-deficent DBA2 mice show higher intraocular pressure compared to wild type mice, but this phenotype was not observed in B6 strain. These results indicated that LTBP-2 deficient mice will be one of the model animals for analysis of human ocular diseases.

Free Research Field

生化学