TREATMENT OF MACULAR EDEMA BY WATER CHANNEL PROTEIN AQUAPORIN

水通道蛋白(Aquaporin，AQP)是一种水通道蛋白，通过动物、行星和微细胞器保存。AQP能使水快速通过质膜转运。在眼部，AQP的突变导致晶状体和泪液的产生和分泌与AQP4和5有关，因此，眼部与AQP有重要的关系。在我们以往的研究中，AQP-4分布在Mueller细胞和视网膜色素上皮中，并与视网膜水肿有密切关系。最近的研究表明，水通道蛋白与RAFT存在于同一部位，即差速离心法得到的膜脂基团，提示水通道蛋白可能与RAFT有关。为了研究AQP4的功能，我们研究了与RAFT相关的脂滴的分布和变化。另一方面，在老年性黄斑变性和视网膜中央静脉阻塞中，黄斑水肿是视力障碍的主要原因。老年性变性采用光动力疗法，视网膜中央静脉阻塞采用放射状视神经切开术。光动力疗法和放射状视神经切断术的治疗效果(黄斑水肿减轻)可能与水通道蛋白的表达有关。积累了光动力疗法和视神经切断术的临床资料。从我们的研究来看，脂滴与视黄醇循环有关，它引起视觉过程的初始反应。AQP可能与视觉过程的初始反应以及激光和/或手术对视网膜水肿的吸收有关。

Aquaporin (AQP) is a water channel protein, which is preserved through animals, planets, and microorganelles. Water can be transported through plasma membrane quickly by AQP. In the eye, the mutation of AQP causes cataract of the lens and lacrimal production and secretion relate to AQP 4 and 5. In this way, the eye and AQPs have important relationship. In our past study, AQP 4 distributed in the Mueller cells and in the retinal pigment epithelium, and has close relationship with retinal edema. In recent study, it is reported that AQP exists in the same part as the raft that is group of membrane lipid by differential centrifugation, which suggests AQP may be related to raft. In order to study the function of AQP 4, we investigated the distribution and changes of lipid droplets that is related to raft. On the other hand, the macular edema is a major cause of visual disturbance in the age-related macular degeneration and the central retinal vein occlusion. Photodynamic therapy is carried out for the age-related degeneration and radial optic neurotomy is for central retinal vein occlusion. The effects (decrease of macular edema) of photodynamic therapy and radial optic neurotomy may be due to the expression of AQP. We accumulated the clinical data of photodynamic therapy and optic neurotomy. From our studies, lipid droplets relate to retinoid cycle which cause the initial response of visual process. AQP may relate to initial response of visual process and the absorption of retinal edema by laser and/or surgery.