Mechanics of Intraocular Pressure Increase Associated with Genetic Factors

该奖项的研究目标是利用青光眼遗传学的信息来了解维持眼压的生物力学过程。跨学科的方法结合工程分析和分子遗传工具来研究分子遗传过程如何影响导致眼压升高的力学问题。这项研究包括对培养介质和供体眼睛的循环液进行分子分析。特别相关的是心肌蛋白的量化，这是一种由眼部组织产生的蛋白质，与眼压升高有关。这些信息将被纳入数学/计算机模型来研究眼睛的一个关键方面。S循环系统-眼部液体和细网状组织的相互作用，液体通过网状组织渗出。流固相互作用产生的力和压力可以：(1)改变组织？S形状和流量，从而产生增加的压力；(2)提供刺激，启动生物信号传导过程来改变流量，从而控制压力。眼组织和眼压升高的力学生物学研究对高眼压和青光眼都有直接的应用价值。40岁以上的人群中有10%患有高眼压。全世界有数百万人最终患上青光眼，使其成为不可逆转失明的主要原因之一，给个人和社会带来了巨大的代价。所获得的知识也将与器官相关，如肾脏、肝脏和淋巴系统，具有类似于眼睛小梁网的网状组织。培养计划包括培养3名研究生和6名本科生。这些资金将来自澳大的两个校区和邻近的机构，以扩大该项目？s的影响。由于该项目结合了来自不同技术领域的前沿研究，它为学生提供了一个在独特的跨学科环境中工作的机会。

The research objective of this award is to use information emerging from glaucoma genetics to inform understanding of the biomechanical processes by which eye pressure is maintained. An interdisciplinary approach combines engineering analyses and molecular genetic tools to study how molecular genetic processes can affect the mechanics problem that leads to elevated eye pressure. The research includes molecular analysis of circulatory fluids from cultured media and donor eyes. Of particular relevance is quantification of myocilin, a protein made by ocular tissues that has been implicated in traits that involve elevated eye pressure. This information will be incorporated in mathematical/computer models to study a key aspect of the eye?s circulation system- the interaction of ocular fluid and fine meshwork tissues through which the fluid percolates. The fluid-solid interaction results in forces and pressures that can: (1) alter the tissue?s shape and flow and thereby produce increased pressure and (2) provide stimulus to initiate a biological signaling process to alter the flow, and thereby control pressure.Research on the mechanobiology of ocular tissue and elevated eye pressure has direct application to both ocular hypertension and glaucoma. Ocular hypertension affects about 10% of the population over age 40. Millions of people worldwide eventually develop glaucoma, making it one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness, at great personal and societal costs. The knowledge gained will also be relevant to organs such as the kidney, the liver and the lymphatic system, having mesh-like tissues similar to the trabecular meshwork of the eye. The education plan includes training of 3 graduate and 6 Research Experience for Undergraduate students. These will come from the two UM campuses and from neighboring institutions to expand the project?s impact. Since the project combines cutting-edge research from diverse technical fields, it offers the students an opportunity to work in a unique, interdisciplinary setting.